A new study published in Scientific Reports (Springer Nature) by a team of Pakistani researchers has found that subtle chemical changes in the blood of leukaemia patients could pave the way for quicker diagnosis and better monitoring of treatment response.
The study focused on acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a fast-progressing blood cancer that affects the bone marrow and blood-forming cells. Despite medical advances, predicting how a patient will respond to chemotherapy remains a significant challenge. The researchers believe that metabolomics (the scientific study of small molecules or metabolites in the body) may offer a breakthrough.
Led by Shabbir Hussain, Dr. Farhat Bano, and Dr. Muhammad Asif Naveed, all from the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore, the team analysed blood samples from 56 AML patients (taken before and after chemotherapy) and compared them with 56 healthy individuals matched for age and gender. The samples were tested using a powerful magnetic resonance technique known as NMR spectroscopy, capable of detecting minute biochemical changes. Shabbir Hussain will be awarded a PhD degree in Biochemistry on the basis of this research, which was approved in the 218th meeting of the Advanced Studies and Research Board held on Thursday under the chairmanship of UHS Vice Chancellor Prof. Ahsan Waheed Rathore.
The findings revealed clear differences in the metabolite profiles of AML patients compared to healthy controls. Significant disruptions were observed in lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and energy production pathways such as glycolysis.
More notably, the study found that certain metabolites could distinguish between patients who responded to chemotherapy (remission group) and those who did not. Metabolites such as acetate, creatine, and lactate showed a high diagnostic accuracy (98%) for AML, while citrate, glutamate, and choline demonstrated strong prognostic value in assessing treatment response.
“These biochemical markers offer promising tools for both early diagnosis and treatment monitoring of AML,” said Dr. Naveed. “They may help reduce delays in treatment decisions and enable more personalised cancer care in the future.”
The study adds to growing global interest in personalised medicine, where a patient’s unique biological profile guides diagnosis and treatment. It also highlights the potential of integrating advanced metabolomic technologies into routine cancer care, particularly in developing countries.