Application of metabolomics by UHPLC-MS/MS in diagnostics and biomarker discovery of non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most prevalent cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in nowadays, comprising 17% of total new cancer cases and 23% of total cancer deaths worldwide (1). Due to the large smoking population, lung cancer has become the leading cancer diagnosed that is rapidly increasing for many years in China (2). Based on the microscopic difference in the tumor cell appearance, lung cancers are broadly classified into two types: small cell lung cancers (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), with NSCLC accounting for approximately 80–85% of all cases. Since clinical manifestations of lung cancer, particularly SCLC often appear latent, nearly 70% patients are diagnosed at advanced stages with metastasis to other organs. Although considerable progress has been made in the treatment of advanced lung cancer in recent years, the prognosis still remains poor with a 10–15% of total 5-year survival rate. Contrary to the high fatality rate of advanced lung cancer, the cure rate for lung cancer at the early stage almost 100% effective. Therefore, early diagnosis of lung cancer remains to be of a paramount challenge and importance (3)