Open AccessUrinary metabolites as noninvasive biomarkers of gastrointestinal diseases: A clinical review
Author(s) -
Irene Sarosiek,
Rudolf Schicho,
Pedro Blandon,
Mohammad Bashashati
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
world journal of gastrointestinal oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.924
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1948-5204
DOI - 10.4251/wjgo.v8.i5.459
Subject(s) - medicine , metabolomics , urinary system , metabolome , cancer , intensive care medicine , bioinformatics , metabolite , biology
The diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders is usually based on invasive techniques such as endoscopy. A key important factor in GI cancer is early diagnosis which warrants development of non- or less-invasive diagnostic techniques. In addition, monitoring and surveillance are other important parts in the management of GI diseases. Metabolomics studies with nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry can measure the concentration of more than 3000 chemical compounds in the urine providing possible chemical signature in different diseases and during health. In this review, we discuss the urinary metabolomics signature of different GI diseases including GI cancer and elaborate on how these biomarkers could be used for the classification, early diagnosis and the monitoring of the patients. Moreover, we discuss future directions of this still evolving field of research.