Urinary D-asparagine level is decreased by the presence of glioblastoma.

Abstract

Gliomas, particularly glioblastomas (GBMs), pose significant challenges due to their aggressiveness and poor prognosis. Early detection through biomarkers is critical for improving outcomes. This study aimed to identify novel biomarkers for gliomas, particularly GBMs, using chiral amino acid profiling. We used chiral amino acid analysis to measure amino acid L- and D-isomer levels in resected tissues (tumor and non-tumor), blood, and urine from 33 patients with primary gliomas and 24 healthy volunteers. The levels of D-amino acid oxidase (DAO), a D-amino acid-degrading enzyme, were evaluated to investigate the D-amino acid metabolism in brain tissue. The GBM mouse model was created by transplanting GBM cells into the brain to confirm whether gliomas affect blood and urine chiral amino acid profiles. We also assessed whether D-amino acids produced by GBM cells are involved in cell proliferation. D-asparagine (D-Asn) levels were higher and DAO expression was lower in glioma than in non-glioma tissues. Blood and urinary D-Asn levels were lower in patients with GBM than in healthy volunteers (p < 0.001), increasing after GBM removal (p < 0.05). Urinary D-Asn levels differentiated between healthy volunteers and patients with GBM (area under the curve: 0.93, sensitivity: 0.88, specificity: 0.92). GBM mouse model validated the decrease of urinary D-Asn in GBM. GBM cells used D-Asn for cell proliferation. Gliomas induce alterations in chiral amino acid profiles, affecting blood and urine levels. Urinary D-Asn emerges as a promising diagnostic biomarker for gliomas, reflecting tumor presence and severity.