Metabolomic Profiling and Bioanalysis of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: Identifying Biomarkers for Treatment Response and Disease Monitoring.

Abstract

Background: Including Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) patients with deep molecular responses (MR4.5) and those with suboptimal responses provides valuable insights into treatment-associated metabolic changes. This study aimed to characterize the metabolomic alterations associated with CML and identify potential biomarkers for treatment response, particularly in patients achieving a deeper molecular response versus those with poorer responses.

Methods: Plasma samples were collected from 51 chronic-phase CML patients and 24 healthy controls. CML patients were classified into two groups based on molecular responses: T1 (BCR-ABL1 IS ≤ 0.0032%) and T2 (BCR-ABL1 IS > 0.0032%, <1%). Metabolomic profiling was conducted using quadrupole time-of-flight liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The data analysis involved a partial least squares discriminant analysis, variable importance in projection (VIP) scores, and a pathway enrichment analysis. Significant metabolites were identified.

Results: The PLS-DA revealed distinct metabolomic profiles between CML patients and healthy controls as well as between the T1 and T2 groups. Key differentiating metabolites with VIP scores > 1.5 included glutamate, hypoxanthine, and D-galactonic acid. In the T2 group, significant increases in malate and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide were observed, reflecting disruptions in purine metabolism, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and amino acid metabolism. The pathway enrichment analysis highlighted significant alterations in CML energy metabolism, nucleotide synthesis, and amino acid biosynthesis.

Conclusions: CML patients exhibit pronounced metabolic changes, particularly in energy and nucleotide metabolism, which are linked to treatment response. These findings provide novel insights into CML biology and suggest potential biomarkers for monitoring treatment efficacy and predicting outcomes and therapeutic targets for improving treatment outcomes and overcoming tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance.