Serum and Fecal Metabolite Profiles Linking With Gut Microbiome in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer characterized by poor prognosis due to the absence of effective targeted therapies. Emerging evidence indicates that the gut microbiota and its metabolites play a key role in the occurrence and development of TNBC. This study aimed to explore the metabolic changes and potential mechanisms associated with TNBC. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the potential relationship between targeted metabolites and the gut microbiota in TNBC. Design: We recruited 8 participants, including 4 with TNBC and 4 with benign fibroadenomas as controls. Methods: The gut microbiota was analyzed using metagenomics on fecal samples. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was employed to identify differential metabolites in serum and fecal samples. The correlation between the gut microbiota and metabolites was analyzed using Spearman’s correlation analysis. Results: Analysis of altered serum metabolites in the TNBC group revealed changes, particularly in carboxylic acids and derivatives, benzene, and substituted derivatives. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) metabolic pathway analysis revealed significant enrichment in 18 pathways. Regarding fecal metabolites, differences between the 2 groups also included carboxylic acids and derivatives, benzene, and substituted derivatives, with 28 metabolic pathways enriched based on KEGG pathway analysis. Metagenomics analysis showed differences in the relative abundance of Anaerococcus , Fischerella , and Schizosaccharomyces at the genus level, which have been previously associated with breast cancer. Furthermore, 4 serum metabolites—L-glutamine, citrate, creatinine, and creatine—along with 9 fecal metabolites, were associated with the aforementioned microbiota. Conclusion: Our findings highlight distinct metabolite profiles in the serum and feces of patients with TNBC. The identification of gut microbiota and their associated metabolites provides new insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying TNBC.