Mass spectrometry-based analysis of eccrine sweat supports predictive, preventive and personalised medicine in a cohort of breast cancer patients in Austria.
| Title: | Mass spectrometry-based analysis of eccrine sweat supports predictive, preventive and personalised medicine in a cohort of breast cancer patients in Austria. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Bolliger M; Department of General Surgery (Division of Visceral Surgery), Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.; Department of Surgery, St. Francis Hospital, Nikolsdorfergasse 32, 1050 Vienna, Austria.; Wasinger D; Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria.; Vienna Doctoral School in Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Str. 38-42, 1090 Vienna, Austria.; Brunmair J; Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria.; Hagn G; Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria.; Vienna Doctoral School in Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Str. 38-42, 1090 Vienna, Austria.; Wolf M; Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria.; Vienna Doctoral School in Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Str. 38-42, 1090 Vienna, Austria.; Preindl K; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, Vienna, 1090 Austria.; Joint Metabolome Facility, University of Vienna and Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria.; Reiter B; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, Vienna, 1090 Austria.; Joint Metabolome Facility, University of Vienna and Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria.; Bileck A; Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria.; Joint Metabolome Facility, University of Vienna and Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria.; Gerner C; Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria.; Joint Metabolome Facility, University of Vienna and Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria.; Fitzal F; Department of Surgery and Vascular Surgery, Hanusch Hospital, Heinrich-Collin-Str. 30, 1140 Vienna, Austria.; Meier-Menches SM; Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria.; Joint Metabolome Facility, University of Vienna and Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria.; Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria. |
| Source: | The EPMA journal [EPMA J] 2025 Jan 31; Vol. 16 (1), pp. 165-182. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Jan 31 (Print Publication: 2025). |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Springer International Publishing Country of Publication: Switzerland NLM ID: 101517307 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 1878-5077 (Print) Linking ISSN: 18785077 NLM ISO Abbreviation: EPMA J Subsets: PubMed not MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: : Cham : Springer International Publishing; Original Publication: [Dordrecht] : Springer |
| Abstract: | Objective: Metabolomics measurements of eccrine sweat may provide novel and relevant biomedical information to support predictive, preventive and personalised medicine (3PM). However, only limited data is available regarding metabolic alterations accompanying chemotherapy of breast cancer patients related to residual cancer burden (RCB) or therapy response. Here, we have applied Metabo-Tip, a non-invasive metabolomics assay based on the analysis of eccrine sweat from the fingertips, to investigate the feasibility of such an approach, especially with respect to drug monitoring, assessing lifestyle parameters and stratification of breast cancer patients.; Methods: Eccrine sweat samples were collected from breast cancer patients (n = 9) during the first cycle of neoadjuvant chemotherapy at four time points in this proof-of-concept study at a Tertiary University Hospital. Metabolites in eccrine sweat were analysed using mass spectrometry. Blood plasma samples from the same timepoints were also collected and analysed using a validated targeted metabolomics kit, in addition to proteomics and fatty acids/oxylipin analysis.; Results: A total of 247 exogenous small molecules and endogenous metabolites were identified in eccrine sweat of the breast cancer patients. Cyclophosphamide and ondansetron were successfully detected and monitored in eccrine sweat of individual patients and accurately reflected the administration schedule. The non-essential amino acids asparagine, serine and proline, as well as ornithine were significantly regulated in eccrine sweat and blood plasma over the therapy cycle. However, their distinct time-dependent profiles indicated compartment-specific distributions. Indeed, the metabolite composition of eccrine sweat seems to largely resemble the composition of the interstitial fluid. Plasma proteins and fatty acids/oxylipins were not affected by the first treatment cycle. Individual smoking habit was revealed by the simultaneous detection of nicotine and its primary metabolite cotinine in eccrine sweat. Stratification according to RCB revealed pronounced differences in the metabolic composition of eccrine sweat in these patients at baseline, e.g., essential amino acids, possibly due to the systemic contribution of breast cancer and its impact on metabolic turnover.; Conclusion: Mass spectrometry-based analysis of metabolites from eccrine sweat of breast cancer patients successfully qualified lifestyle parameters for risk assessment and allowed us to monitor drug treatment and systemic response to therapy. Moreover, eccrine sweat revealed a potentially predictive metabolic pattern stratifying patients by the extent of the metabolic activity of breast cancer tissue at baseline. Eccrine sweat is derived from the otherwise hardly accessible interstitial fluid and, thus, opens up a new dimension for biomonitoring of breast cancer in secondary and tertiary care. The simple sample collection without the need for trained personnel could also enable decentralised long-term biomonitoring to assess stable disease or disease progression. Eccrine sweat analysis may indeed significantly advance 3PM for the benefit of breast cancer patients.; Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13167-025-00396-6.; (© The Author(s) 2025.) |
| Competing Interests: | Conflict of interestThe authors declare no competing interests. |
| References: | Eur J Pharm Sci. 2017 Nov 15;109S:S15-S21. (PMID: 28502671); Nat Commun. 2021 Oct 13;12(1):5993. (PMID: 34645808); Br J Cancer. 2007 May 21;96(10):1504-13. (PMID: 17453008); Nat Methods. 2019 Apr;16(4):299-302. (PMID: 30886413); Nat Biotechnol. 2022 May;40(5):692-702. (PMID: 35102292); J Transl Med. 2020 Dec 9;18(1):472. (PMID: 33298113); Autoimmun Rev. 2016 Aug;15(8):833-42. (PMID: 27302209); J Lipid Res. 2018 Oct;59(10):2001-2017. (PMID: 30115755); Nat Commun. 2021 Apr 16;12(1):2301. (PMID: 33863885); Temperature (Austin). 2019 Jul 17;6(3):211-259. (PMID: 31608304); Anal Chem. 2017 Sep 5;89(17):8696-8703. (PMID: 28752754); EPMA J. 2021 May 04;12(2):141-153. (PMID: 34188726); Physiol Rev. 2012 Jul;92(3):1005-60. (PMID: 22811424); Nat Clin Pract Oncol. 2007 Sep;4(9):516-25. (PMID: 17728710); J Proteomics. 2018 Sep 30;188:97-106. (PMID: 28821459); Cell. 2014 Mar 27;157(1):241-53. (PMID: 24679539); Cancer Treat Rev. 2011 Aug;37(5):373-84. (PMID: 21195552); J Crohns Colitis. 2023 Oct 20;17(9):1514-1527. (PMID: 36961872); N Engl J Med. 2010 Jul 22;363(4):301-4. (PMID: 20551152); Clin Proteomics. 2020 May 24;17:17. (PMID: 32489335); Clin Pharmacokinet. 2014 Aug;53(8):695-730. (PMID: 24972859); Sci Transl Med. 2010 Aug 25;2(46):46ps42. (PMID: 20739680); Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2019 Jun;20(6):353-367. (PMID: 30814649); Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Jun;32(6):367-381. (PMID: 33795176); Sci Transl Med. 2020 Nov 25;12(571):. (PMID: 33239384); Science. 2013 Mar 8;339(6124):1155-6. (PMID: 23471391); Per Med. 2017 Mar;14(2):141-152. (PMID: 29754553); BMC Cancer. 2015 Jun 09;15:460. (PMID: 26055977); Lancet Oncol. 2022 Jan;23(1):149-160. (PMID: 34902335); J Hematol Oncol. 2017 Jul 27;10(1):144. (PMID: 28750681); Sci Rep. 2017 Sep 18;7(1):11801. (PMID: 28924220); Nat Rev Nephrol. 2020 Nov;16(11):657-668. (PMID: 32424281); EPMA J. 2012 Nov 09;3(1):16. (PMID: 23140237); Nature. 2009 Oct 8;461(7265):724-6. (PMID: 19812653); EPMA J. 2024 Feb 27;15(1):1-23. (PMID: 38463624); EPMA J. 2017 Apr 10;8(2):129-140. (PMID: 28824738); Sci Rep. 2023 Feb 1;13(1):1868. (PMID: 36725900); J Clin Oncol. 2021 May 1;39(13):1485-1505. (PMID: 33507815); Nat Biotechnol. 2023 Apr;41(4):447-449. (PMID: 36859716); N Engl J Med. 1992 May 14;326(20):1335-41. (PMID: 1314333); J Anal Toxicol. 2002 Nov-Dec;26(8):547-53. (PMID: 12501911); Sci Transl Med. 2022 Oct 12;14(666):eabn6036. (PMID: 36223451); J Biol Chem. 1990 Jul 25;265(21):12745-8. (PMID: 2373711); ACS Sens. 2021 Aug 27;6(8):2787-2801. (PMID: 34351759); EPMA J. 2017 Mar 8;8(1):17-22. (PMID: 28620440); Cancer Commun (Lond). 2021 Nov;41(11):1183-1194. (PMID: 34399040); Prostaglandins. 1987 Nov;34(5):749-63. (PMID: 3124219); Aging (Milano). 1996 Oct;8(5):360-4. (PMID: 8959239); Ann Oncol. 2023 Nov;34(11):970-986. (PMID: 37683978); Science. 2023 Feb 24;379(6634):760-761. (PMID: 36821680); EPMA J. 2014 May 30;5(1):8. (PMID: 24883142); Cancer Cell. 2022 Sep 12;40(9):920-938. (PMID: 36055231); iScience. 2023 Jan 20;26(1):105717. (PMID: 36507225); Adv Sci (Weinh). 2018 Aug 02;5(10):1800880. (PMID: 30356971); Anal Bioanal Chem. 2019 Feb;411(6):1239-1251. (PMID: 30617406); Nat Commun. 2021 Jan 5;12(1):124. (PMID: 33402734); Am J Cancer Res. 2020 Apr 01;10(4):1045-1067. (PMID: 32368385); Nat Biotechnol. 2022 Mar;40(3):411-421. (PMID: 34650271); Biology (Basel). 2023 Jan 31;12(2):. (PMID: 36829507); Lung. 2017 Apr;195(2):241-246. (PMID: 28243741); Nature. 2019 May;569(7758):663-671. (PMID: 31142858); Nat Biotechnol. 2019 Apr;37(4):407-419. (PMID: 30804536); J Invest Dermatol. 1971 Mar;56(3):182-8. (PMID: 5556511); EPMA J. 2017 May 2;8(2):141-157. (PMID: 28725292); Annu Rev Stat Appl. 2019 Mar;6:263-286. (PMID: 31073534); Cell. 2021 Mar 18;184(6):1415-1419. (PMID: 33740447); Commun Biol. 2018 Oct 26;1:178. (PMID: 30393775); Nat Rev Cancer. 2017 Dec;17(12):738-750. (PMID: 29123246) |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Breast cancer; Disease progression; Eccrine sweat; Evidence-based research data; Individualised patient monitoring; Lifestyle parameters; Metabolomics; Molecular patterns; Multi-omics; Patient stratification; Predictive preventive personalised medicine (PPPM / 3PM); Risk assessment; Secondary tertiary care; Sweat metabotyping; Systemic response to therapy |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20250224 Latest Revision: 20250430 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC11842658 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s13167-025-00396-6 |
| PMID: | 39991101 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article