Comparative metabolomics studies of blood collected in streck and heparin tubes from lung cancer patients

PLoS One. 2021 Apr 23;16(4):e0249648. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249648. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Metabolomics analysis of blood from patients (n = 42) undergoing surgery for suspected lung cancer was performed in this study. Venous and arterial blood was collected in both Streck and Heparin tubes. A total of 96 metabolites were detected, affected by sex (n = 56), collection tube (n = 33), and blood location (n = 8). These metabolites belonged to a wide array of compound classes including lipids, acids, pharmaceutical agents, signalling molecules, vitamins, among others. Phospholipids and carboxylic acids accounted for 28% of all detected compounds. Out of the 33 compounds significantly affected by collection tube, 18 compounds were higher in the Streck tubes, including allantoin and ketoleucine, and 15 were higher in the Heparin tubes, including LysoPC(P-16:0), PS 40:6, and chenodeoxycholic acid glycine conjugate. Based on our results, it is recommended that replicate blood samples from each patient should be collected in different types of blood collection tubes for a broader range of the metabolome. Several metabolites were found at higher concentrations in cancer patients such as lactic acid in Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and lysoPCs in Adenocarcinoma and Acinar Cell Carcinoma, which may be used to detect early onset and/or to monitor the progress of the cancer patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Blood Specimen Collection / methods*
  • Cell-Free Nucleic Acids / isolation & purification
  • Female
  • Hematologic Tests
  • Heparin / blood
  • Heparin / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / blood
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Metabolome / drug effects
  • Metabolome / physiology
  • Metabolomics / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Sex Factors

Substances

  • Cell-Free Nucleic Acids
  • Heparin

Associated data

  • figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.13963106

Grants and funding

The Manitoba Tumor Bank (MTB) is supported with funding from the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation (CCMF). We thank all the patients who have donated biospecimens to the MTB for research. The CCMF had no role in the current study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.