Analytical Sciences

Rapid Detection of Small Molecule Metabolites in Serum of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Using Ultrafast Liquid Chromatography–Ion Trap–Time of Flight Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Hui LI,*,** Su-fang FAN,** Yan WANG,* Shi-gang SHEN,*** and Dian-xing SUN*

*The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050082, PR China
**Hebei Food Safety Key Laboratory, Hebei Food Inspection and Research Institute, Shijiazhuang, 050091, PR China
***Key Laboratory of Analytical Science and Technology of Hebei Province, Baoding, 071002, PR China

A method was developed for analyzing broad spectrum small molecule metabolites in the serum of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients based on ultrafast liquid chromatography–ion trap–time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-IT-TOF MS). Serum samples were collected from 80 HCC patients and healthy persons. After pretreatment process for protein precipitation, the supernatant was analyzed with the UFLC-IT-TOF MS to obtain information on the metabonomics of small molecules. The eight compounds of glycocholic acid, choline glycerophosphate, acetyl-L-phenylalanine, oleamide, tetradecanamide, acetylcarnitine, lysolecithin and glycochenodeoxycholic acid in the HCC group were identified with significant differences from those in the health group (P <0.01). By using multidimensional analysis of variation coefficient and principal component analysis for the repeatability and 48 h stability, the method was demonstrated to have good repeatability, excellent precision, and high stability, which can satisfy the metabonomics research requirement. The high throughput and practical usability of the method further shows perspective for metabonomic analysis of large-batch serum samples.

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