Identification of serum biomarkers of chemoradiosensitivity in esophageal cancer via the targeted metabolomics approach

Aim: To identify the serum metabolomics signature that is correlated with the chemoradiosensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Materials & methods: Untargeted and targeted metabolomics analysis of serum samples from 26 ESCC patients, which were collected before the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, was performed. Results: On receiving the results of untargeted metabolomics analysis, we performed the targeted metabolomics analysis of the six metabolites (arabitol, betaine, glycine, L-serine, L-arginine and L-aspartate). The serum levels of the four metabolites (arabitol, glycine, L-serine and L-arginine) were significantly lower in the patients who achieved pathological complete response with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy compared with the patients who did not achieve pathological complete response (p = 0.0086, 0.0345, 0.0106 and 0.0373, respectively). Conclusion: The serum levels of metabolites might be useful for predicting the chemoradiosensitivity of ESCC patients.