Analysis of urinary metabolites for breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy by CE-MS coupled with on-line concentration

Abstract Objective This study aimed to explore the relationship between urinary metabolites and clinical chemotherapy response in breast cancer by CE-MS coupled with on-line concentration. Design and methods Urine samples were obtained from patients with advanced or locally advanced breast cancer (n = 21) before and after chemotherapy and healthy volunteers (n = 21). A rapid and sensitive hexadimethrine bromide-coating CE-MS method coupled with normal stacking is developed for the determination of organic acids in human urine. Another CE-MS method coupled with pH-mediated sample stacking is used for the analysis of amino acids and organic acids. Results After receiving chemotherapy, chemotherapy-sensitive patients showed 30% change in metabolite levels compared to healthy people, while chemotherapy-insensitive patients showed only 9% change in metabolite levels compared to healthy people showing recurrence. The extent of energy insufficiency for chemotherapy-insensitive patients was greater than that for chemotherapy-sensitive patients. Conclusions Urinary metabolic products may be new potential predictive markers for therapy efficacy. However, more studies with a larger sample size are required to confirm these conclusions.