Analysis of Phosphatidylcholines Alterations in Human Glioblastomas Ex Vivo

The analysis of data obtained using ambient mass spectrometric profiling of clinical samples of primary and secondary human glioblastomas ex vivo, revealed changes in the lipid composition of tissues accompanying the development of grade IV glial tumors (according to the WHO classification). It has been shown that both primary and secondary (developed from astrocytoma) tumors are enriched with mono- and di-unsaturated phosphatidylcholines (PC 26:1, 30:2, 32:1, 32:2, 34:1, 34:2). At the same time, the content of saturated and polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylethanolamines decreases. These changes are associated both with altered availability of polyunsaturated fatty acids and activation of de novo synthesis and beta-oxidation of fatty acids under conditions of oxygen starvation in the tumor body.