Objectives: The metabolic pathway of cancerous tissue differs from healthy tissue, leading to the unique isotopic composition of stable isotopes at their natural abundance. We have studied if these changes can be developed into diagnostic or prognostic tools in the case of endometrial cancer. Methods: Measurements of stable isotope ratios were performed using isotope ratio mass spectrometry for nitrogen, carbon, and sulfur isotopic assessment. Uterine tissue and serum samples were collected from patients and the control group. Results: At a natural abundance, the isotopic compositions of all three of the studied elements of uterus cancerous and healthy tissues are different. However, no correlation of the isotopic composition of the tissues with that of serum was found. Conclusions: Differences in the isotopic composition of the tissues might be a potential prognostic tool. However, the lack of a correlation between the differences in the isotopic composition of the tissues and serum seems to exclude their application as diagnostic biomarkers, which, however, might be possible if a position-specific isotopic analysis is performed.
目的：癌变组织的代谢途径与健康组织不同，导致其天然丰度下的稳定同位素组成具有独特性。本研究旨在探讨这些变化是否可发展为子宫内膜癌的诊断或预后工具。方法：采用同位素比质谱法对氮、碳和硫同位素进行稳定同位素比值测定。收集患者及对照组的子宫组织和血清样本。结果：在天然丰度下，子宫癌变组织与健康组织中三种研究元素的同位素组成均存在差异。然而，未发现组织同位素组成与血清同位素组成之间存在相关性。结论：组织同位素组成的差异可能成为一种潜在的预后工具。但组织与血清同位素组成差异之间缺乏相关性，似乎排除了其作为诊断生物标志物的应用可能性；不过若进行位置特异性同位素分析，则可能实现这一应用。
Isotopic Composition of C, N, and S as an Indicator of Endometrial Cancer
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家