Journal Article Epublish
PubMed: 39991101 DOI: 10.1007/s13167-025-00396-6
Mass spectrometry-based analysis of eccrine sweat supports predictive, preventive and personalised medicine in a cohort of breast cancer patients in Austria.
EPMA J 16(1):165-182
Authors: Michael Bolliger, Daniel Wasinger, Julia Brunmair, Gerhard Hagn, Michael Wolf, Karin Preindl, Birgit Reiter, Andrea Bileck, Christopher Gerner, Florian Fitzal, Samuel M Meier-Menches
Affiliations
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Department of Surgery and Vascular Surgery, Hanusch Hospital, Heinrich-Collin-Str. 30, 1140 Vienna, Austria.
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
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 ( = 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.
MeSH
Life Style, Breast Neoplasms, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Amino Acids, Neoplasms, Oxylipins, Drug Therapy, Amino Acids, Essential, Breast, Metabolomics, Biological Monitoring, Therapeutics, Smoking, Plasma, Fatty Acids, Chemotherapy