HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, Jan 10: Researchers at Tezpur University have reported the discovery of distinct chemical patterns in blood that can help differentiate gallbladder cancer cases linked to gallstones from those occurring without them, a development that could open new avenues for the early detection of one of the most lethal gastrointestinal cancers.
The study has identified specific blood-based metabolic signatures that show promise as potential biomarkers for gallbladder cancer, according to a statement from the university.
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Gallbladder cancer is known for its aggressive nature and late diagnosis, and its incidence is particularly high in North East India, where it ranks as the third most common cancer.
Most patients are diagnosed at advanced stages due to the disease’s largely symptomless progression.
While gallstones are a well-established risk factor, many individuals with gallstones never develop cancer, and a sizeable number of patients are diagnosed without any prior history of the condition.
With projections indicating a further rise in cases in Assam, researchers have stressed the importance of developing reliable methods for early detection.
The research was led by Assistant Professor Pankaj Barah and research scholar Cinmoyee Baruah from the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at Tezpur University, and has been published in the Journal of Proteome Research of the American Chemical Society.
Explaining the significance of the findings, Barah said the study showed that variations in blood metabolites, including creatinine-related chemicals, could clearly distinguish gallbladder cancer cases with gallstones from those without, raising the possibility of simple blood tests for early diagnosis.
Described as the first pilot study of its kind from North East India, the research analysed blood samples from three groups: gallbladder cancer patients without gallstones, gallbladder cancer patients with gallstones, and individuals with gallstones but no cancer.
Advanced metabolomics analysis revealed widespread metabolic changes, with 180 altered metabolites identified in gallstone-free cancer cases and 225 in cases associated with gallstones.
The researchers also identified distinct biomarker panels for each category, showing high diagnostic accuracy.
Many of these markers involved bile acids and amino acid derivatives that are known to play a role in tumour development and progression.
The study was conducted through an interdisciplinary collaboration bringing together surgeons, pathologists, pharmaceutical scientists, molecular biologists and computational experts.
Clinical support was provided by Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh, Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute in Guwahati and Swagat Super-Speciality Hospital, while analytical and computational inputs came from the University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign, and the CSIR–Indian Institute of Toxicology Research in Lucknow.
Emphasising the clinical relevance of the work, Gayatri Gogoi, a pathologist at Assam Medical College, said the integration of tissue pathology with blood metabolomics helped bridge the gap between laboratory research and clinical diagnosis.
Gastrointestinal surgeon Subhash Khanna of Guwahati described the findings as an important step towards practical, early diagnostic tools that could support better clinical decision-making.
While noting that larger, multi-centre studies will be needed before the findings can be translated into routine clinical use, the researchers said the study lays a strong scientific foundation for developing non-invasive screening methods, particularly for high-risk regions such as North East India.
