Hu Ziyang, Xu Zhe, Yue Qu, Pan Xuhong, Shi Ping, Zhang Dandan, Zhang Jiexia, Deng Runzhi, Lin Zitong
Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital, Department of Stomatology, Shenzhen, China.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Front Oncol. 2024 Feb 5;14:1305684. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1305684. eCollection 2024.
This research aimed to explore the causal impact of blood metabolites on oral cancer using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. The study endeavored to identify potential biomarkers for oral cancer's clinical management.
Based on the large individual-level datasets from UK Biobank as well as GWAS summary datasets, we first constructed genetic risk scores (GRSs) of 486 human blood metabolites and evaluated the effect on oral cancer. Various statistical methods, including inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, and weighted median, among others, were employed to analyze the potential causal relationship between blood metabolites and oral cancer. The sensitivity analyses were conducted using Cochran's Q tests, funnel plots, leave-one-out analyses, and MR-Egger intercept tests.
29 metabolites met the stringent selection criteria. Out of these, 14 metabolites demonstrated a positive association with oral cancer risk, while 15 metabolites indicated a protective effect against oral cancer. The IVW-derived estimates were significant, and the results were consistent across different statistical methodologies. Both the Cochran Q test and the MR-Egger intercept test indicated no heterogeneity and pleiotropy.
This MR study offers evidence of the role specific blood metabolites play in oral cancer, pinpointing several with potential risk or protective effects. These findings could be helpful for new diagnostic tools and treatments for oral cancer. While the results are promising, additional research is necessary to fully validate and refine these conclusions. This study serves as a foundational step towards more comprehensive understandings in the future.
本研究旨在通过两样本孟德尔随机化（MR）分析探讨血液代谢物对口腔癌的因果影响。该研究致力于确定口腔癌临床管理的潜在生物标志物。
基于英国生物银行的大型个体水平数据集以及全基因组关联研究（GWAS）汇总数据集，我们首先构建了486种人体血液代谢物的遗传风险评分（GRSs），并评估其对口腔癌的影响。采用了多种统计方法，包括逆方差加权（IVW）、MR-Egger和加权中位数等，来分析血液代谢物与口腔癌之间的潜在因果关系。使用 Cochr an's Q检验、漏斗图、留一法分析和MR-Egger截距检验进行敏感性分析。
29种代谢物符合严格的筛选标准。其中，14种代谢物与口腔癌风险呈正相关，而15种代谢物显示出对口腔癌的保护作用。IVW得出的估计值具有显著性，且结果在不同统计方法中保持一致。 Cochr an Q检验和MR-Egger截距检验均表明不存在异质性和多效性。
这项MR研究提供了特定血液代谢物在口腔癌中作用的证据，确定了几种具有潜在风险或保护作用的代谢物。这些发现可能有助于开发口腔癌的新诊断工具和治疗方法。虽然结果很有前景，但仍需进一步研究以充分验证和完善这些结论。本研究是未来更全面理解的基础步骤。
