Researchers at Assam’s Tezpur University have identified specific blood‑based chemical markers that can distinguish gallbladder cancer in patients with and without gallstones, offering a potential pathway for earlier diagnosis of this aggressive gastrointestinal malignancy.
The study, published in the Journal of Proteome Research of the American Chemical Society, analysed blood samples using advanced metabolomics techniques and found distinct metabolic signatures that may serve as biomarkers for gallbladder cancer. These signatures included hundreds of altered metabolites linked to tumour progression, including bile acids and amino acid derivatives.
Gallbladder cancer is among the deadliest cancers worldwide and shows a disproportionately high incidence in Northeast India, where it ranks as the third most common cancer. It often remains undetected until advanced stages, when treatment options are limited, underscoring the need for non‑invasive early detection methods. Although gallstones are a recognised risk factor, many patients develop cancer without them, complicating early clinical identification.
The pilot study was led by researchers from the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, with collaboration from clinicians and scientists across institutions including Assam Medical College & Hospital (Dibrugarh), Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (Guwahati), Swagat Super‑Speciality Hospital, the University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign (USA), and CSIR–Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (Lucknow).
Blood samples were grouped into patients with gallbladder cancer without gallstones, with gallstones, and individuals with gallstones only, revealing hundreds of altered metabolites in cancer cases compared with controls. Distinct biomarker panels with high diagnostic accuracy were identified for both gallstone‑associated and gallstone‑free cancer cases, reinforcing the potential of a blood test as a non‑invasive diagnostic tool.
