Application of Multigroup Technology in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer with Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To explore the basic characteristics of intestinal flora, metabolomics, and proteomics of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome. METHODS: Twelve NSCLC patients with Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome were selected for the QZXY group and 15 healthy volunteers were selected for the control group. Fecal samples from the two groups were collected to evaluate intestinal microecology using the 16s rDNA technique. Serum samples were collected to compare the differences in metabolomics and proteomics between the two groups using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Another 34 NSCLC patients with other syndromes were selected for the nQZXY group and their serum samples were collected. Metabolomics differences between the QZXY and nQZXY groups were compared using LC-MS, and four metabolites with the most obvious differences were selected for receiver operation characteristic curve representation. Finally, multigroup results were analyzed using the WGCNA software. RESULTS: There were two significantly different types of bacteria (Aerococcaceae and Abiotrophia), 11 different proteins (six upregulated and five downregulated), and 38 different metabolites (nine upregulated, 29 downregulated) between the QZXY and control groups. There was a correlation between differential bacteria, proteins, and metabolites. The conjoint analysis found that the different substances were related to MAPK, PI3K/Akt, Ras signaling pathway, cancer pathways, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. There were four significant differences in metabolites (Pseudouridine, phenlacetyl-C0A, L-glutamic, and phospho-anandamide) between the QZXY and nQZXY groups. CONCLUSIONS: NSCLC with Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome had specific intestinal flora and protein and metabolites, which were closely related to the occurrence and development of tumors.