Biological requirements for
tumor cell proliferation include the sustained increase of structural, energetic, signal transduction and biosynthetic precursors. Because
lipids participate in membrane construction, energy storage, and cell signaling. We hypothesized that the differences in
lipids between malignant
carcinoma and normal controls could be reflected in the bio-fluids. A total of 100 pre-operative plasma samples were collected from 50
oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), 50 normal patients and characterize by
lipid profiling using ultra performance liquid chromatography/electro spray ionization mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). The
lipid profiles of the OSCC and control samples as well as the different stages were compared. Differentially expressed
lipids were categorized as
glycerophospholipids and
sphingolipids. All
glycerophospholipids were decreased, especially
phosphatidylcholine and
phosphoethanolamine plasmalogens, whereas
sphingolipids were increased in the OSCC patients compared to the controls. We further identified 12 staging related
lipids, which could be utilized to discriminate early stage patients from advanced stage patients. In the future, the differential
lipids may provide biologists with additional information regarding lipid metabolism and guide clinicians in making individualized therapeutic decisions if these results are confirmed in a larger study.