Metabolomics: A New Era in the Diagnosis or Prognosis of B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Abstract

A wide range of histological as well as clinical properties are exhibited by B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. These properties could make the diagnostics process complicated. The diagnosis of lymphomas at an initial stage is essential because early remedial actions taken against destructive subtypes are commonly deliberated as successful and restorative. Therefore, better protective action is needed to improve the condition of those patients who are extensively affected by cancer when diagnosed for the first time. The development of new and efficient methods for early detection of cancer has become crucial nowadays. Biomarkers are urgently needed for diagnosing B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and assessing the severity of the disease and its prognosis. New possibilities are now open for diagnosing cancer with the help of metabolomics. The study of all the metabolites synthesised in the human body is called "metabolomics." A patient's phenotype is directly linked with metabolomics, which can help in providing some clinically beneficial biomarkers and is applied in the diagnostics of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In cancer research, it can analyse the cancerous metabolome to identify the metabolic biomarkers. This review provides an understanding of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma metabolism and its applications in medical diagnostics. A description of the workflow based on metabolomics is also provided, along with the benefits and drawbacks of various techniques. The use of predictive metabolic biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is also explored. Thus, we can say that abnormalities related to metabolic processes can occur in a vast range of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The metabolic biomarkers could only be discovered and identified as innovative therapeutic objects if we explored and researched them. In the near future, the innovations involving metabolomics could prove fruitful for predicting outcomes and bringing out novel remedial approaches.

Keywords: B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma; biomarkers; early diagnosis; metabolites; metabolomics; therapeutic.

Figure 1

Altered gene expression and mutations associated with key metabolic pathways found in B-NHL subtypes. The figure illustrates: (A) The major B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma subtypes that emerge from different cells that originate within the lymph node; (B) mutated genes that influence metabolic reprogramming; and (C) critical metabolic pathways observed in B-NHL subtypes. The references used for this figure are CLL/SLL [33,34,35], MCL [36], BL [37], FL [38], and DLBCL [33,39].

Figure 2

B-NHL Metabolomics Workflow Steps: (1) study design; (2) pre-analytical process, including sample collection and processing; (3) analytical process, which is platform choice (either LC–MS, GC–MS, or NMR); and (4) post-analytical process, including data processing, results interpretation, and biomarker identification.