Papandreou A, Doykov I, Spiewak J, Komarov N, Habermann S, Kurian MA, Mills PB, Mills K, Gissen P, Heywood WE. Niemann-Pick type C disease as proof-of-concept for intelligent biomarker panel selection in neurometabolic disorders.
Dev Med Child Neurol 2022;
64:1539-1546. [PMID:
35833379 PMCID:
PMC9796541 DOI:
10.1111/dmcn.15334]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
AIM
Using Niemann-Pick type C disease (NPC) as a paradigm, we aimed to improve biomarker discovery in patients with neurometabolic disorders.
METHOD
Using a multiplexed liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry dried bloodspot assay, we developed a selective intelligent biomarker panel to monitor known biomarkers N-palmitoyl-O-phosphocholineserine and 3β,5α,6β-trihydroxy-cholanoyl-glycine as well as compounds predicted to be affected in NPC pathology. We applied this panel to a clinically relevant paediatric patient cohort (n = 75; 35 males, 40 females; mean age 7 years 6 months, range 4 days-19 years 8 months) presenting with neurodevelopmental and/or neurodegenerative pathology, similar to that observed in NPC.
RESULTS
The panel had a far superior performance compared with individual biomarkers. Namely, NPC-related established biomarkers used individually had 91% to 97% specificity but the combined panel had 100% specificity. Moreover, multivariate analysis revealed long-chain isoforms of glucosylceramide were elevated and very specific for patients with NPC.
INTERPRETATION
Despite advancements in next-generation sequencing and precision medicine, neurological non-enzymatic disorders remain difficult to diagnose and lack robust biomarkers or routine functional testing for genetic variants of unknown significance. Biomarker panels may have better diagnostic accuracy than individual biomarkers in neurometabolic disorders, hence they can facilitate more prompt disease identification and implementation of emerging targeted, disease-specific therapies.
WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS
Intelligent biomarker panel design can help expedite diagnosis in neurometabolic disorders. In Niemann-Pick type C disease, such a panel performed better than individual biomarkers. Biomarker panels are easy to implement and widely applicable to neurometabolic conditions.
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