Tezpur University (TU) researchers have discovered unique chemical signatures in blood that can distinguish between instances of gallbladder cancer with and without gallstones. This discovery may help with the early detection of one of the most aggressive and frequently missed tumors. The work, headed by research scholar Dr. Cinmoyee Baruah and assistant professor Dr. Pankaj Barah of Tezpur University’s Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, was published in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Proteome Research. According to the study, certain blood-based “metabolic signatures” have been found that could be used as biomarkers for gallbladder cancer.
As the third most frequent cancer in Northeast India, gallbladder cancer has a disproportionately high incidence and is one of the deadliest gastrointestinal cancers. The majority of patients arrive at advanced stages when treatment choices are scarce, and the disease is infamous for its stealthy progression. Despite being a known risk factor, not all people with gallstones go on to get cancer, and a sizable percentage of patients are diagnosed without ever having had gallstones.
Researchers found that blood metabolite changes can clearly differentiate gallbladder cancer patients with gallstones from those without. By analysing blood samples from three groups—cancer without gallstones, cancer with gallstones, and gallstones without cancer—the study identified hundreds of altered metabolites and distinct biomarker panels with high diagnostic accuracy. These findings suggest the potential for simple blood-based tests for early detection. The interdisciplinary study involved Indian medical institutions, with analytical and computational support from international and national research centres.