Identification and comparison of plasma metabolomics signatures for common types of gastrointestinal cancer

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer constitutes a major part of the cancer incidence and mortality statistics worldwide. However, the biological mechanisms underlying GI carcinogenesis remains largely unknown. Although metabolic disturbances have been proposed to play a critical role in the development of GI cancer, it is unclear about which metabolites are involved and whether they can be used as biomarkers for predicting cancer risk.
Therefore, based on UK Biobank, we aim to identify metabolites associated with GI cancer and to evaluate the risk prediction ability of the identified metabolites for GI cancer beyond known risk factors. We will spend about 2 years on the analyses. This project will provide significant insight into molecular mechanisms of GI cancer and identify novel biomarkers for its tailored prevention.