Change in the spectrum of free amino acids in plasma and urine of patients with breast cancer / 中华临床营养杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the characteristics of amino acids metabolism in breast cancer patients so as to provide theoretic evidence for nutrition support.Method The levels of free amino acids in plasma and urine were examined in 55 breast cancer patients and 50 normal controls with Hitachi L-8900 amino acid analyzer.Results Compared with the normal controls,the plasma level of methionine increased significantly in breast cancer patients [(48.22 ± 12.90) μmol/L,P =0.04),while the levels of 7 amino acids decreased,ineluding isoleucine [(43.07 ± 14.88) μmol/L,P =0.04],leucine [(93.22 ± 18.29) μmol/L,P =0.01],valine [(200.86 ± 42.11) μmol/L,P =0.04],arginine [(46.49 ± 11.79) μmol/L,P =0.00],lysine [(107.37 ±32.61) μmol/L,P=0.01],tyrosine [(29.51 ±18.09) μmol/L,P=0.02] and phenylalanine [(57.39 ± 17.03) μmol/L,P =0.00],and branched chain amino acids/aromatic amino acid decreased to 1.81 ± 0.81 (P =0.04).Compared with the normal controls,the urine levels of phenylalanine [(22.01 ± 4.37) μmol/L,P=0.01],tyrosine [(12.13 ±5.72) μmol/L,P=0.02] and lysine [(107.37 ± 32.61) μmol/L,P =0.00] increased significantly in breast cancer patients,while the urine levels of leucine [(0.84 ±0.21) μmol/L,P =0.04] and valine [(0.50 ± 1.10) μmol/L,P =0.01] decreased significantly,and the ratio of branched chain amino acids/aromatic amino acid dropped to 1.91 ± 0.60 (P =0.03).Conclusions There is metabolic disorders of amino acids in patients who breast cancer.The focus of the amino acid imbalance treatment for breast cancer patients are supplementation of branch amino acids and arginine.