Knapp P, et al. – The concentration of selected sphingolipids was explored in patients with advanced ovarian cancer (AOC, FIGO III/IV, high grade ovarian cancer). In the development and progression of cancer, bioactive sphingolipids played an essential role and took part in the process of metastasizing. In addition, some sphingolipids could be used as potential biomarkers of advanced ovarian cancer. This study suggested their possible role in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Methods

• This study incorporated seventy-four patients with ovarian cancer.
• LC/MS/MS evaluated plasma concentrations of C16-Cer, C18:1-Cer and C18-Cer.
• UHPLC/MS/MS was used to estimate the content of tissue sphingolipids.

Results

• As compared to control group, plasma concentration of 3 ceramides: C16-Cer, C18:1-Cer and C18-Cer was significantly elevated in women with advanced ovarian cancer (P = 0.031; 0.022; 0.020; respectively).
• Results reported increases in concentration of 5 ceramides: C16-Cer, C18:1-Cer, C18-Cer, C24:1-Cer, C24-Cer (P = 0.025; 0.049; 0.032; 0.005; 0.013, respectively) and S1P (P = 0.004) in ovarian tissue of women with advanced ovarian cancer compared to healthy individuals.
• Importantly, significantly higher risk of ovarian cancer when the plasma concentration of C16-Cer > 311.88 ng/100 μl (AUC: 0.76, P = 0.0261); C18:1-Cer > 4.75 ng/100 μl (AUC: 0.77, P = 0.0160) and C18-Cer > 100.76 ng/100 μl (AUC:0.77, P = 0.0136) was noticed.