Metabolomics and triple-negative breast cancer: A systematic review

Identifier:  imarina:9366627

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9366627

Authors:  Arenas, Meritxell; Fargas-Saladie, Maria; Moreno-Sole, Marta; Moyano-Femenia, Lucia; Jimenez-Franco, Andrea; Canela-Capdevila, Marta; Castane, Helena; Martinez-Navidad, Cristian; Camps, Jordi; Joven, Jorge

Abstract:
Background: Triple-negative breast cancer stands out as the most aggressive subtype of breast malignancy and is characterized by an unfavourable prognosis. Objective: This systematic review summarizes the insights gleaned from metabolomic analyses of individuals afflicted with this cancer variant. The overarching goal was to delineate the molecular alterations associated with triple-negative breast cancer, pinpointing potential therapeutic targets and novel biomarkers. Methods: We systematically searched for evidence using the PubMed database and followed the PRISMA and STARLITE guidelines. The search parameters were delimited to articles published within the last 13 years. Results: From an initial pool of 148 scrutinized articles, 17 studies involving 1686 participants were deemed eligible for inclusion. The current body of research shows a paucity of studies, and the available evidence presents conflicting outcomes. Notwithstanding, Pathway Enrichment Analysis identified the urea and glucose-alanine cycles as the most affected metabolic pathways, followed by arginine, proline, and aspartate metabolism. Conclusion: Future investigations need to focus on elucidating which of those metabolites and/or pathways might be reliable candidates for novel therapeutic interventions or reliable biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of this subtype of breast cancer.