Sulphur metabolism in colon cancer tissues: a case report and literature review

Sulphur-containing compounds have been linked to colorectal cancer by factors such as the presence of methyl mercaptan in intestinal gas and long-term dietary intake associated with sulphur-metabolizing microbiota. Therefore, this current case report hypothesized that active sulphur metabolism in colorectal cancer results in the formation of sulphur compounds in the intestine and, thus, examined sulphur metabolites possibly associated with sulphur respiration in colon cancer tissues. The patient was a 73-year-old female that underwent laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for ascending colon cancer. During the surgery, colon cancer tissues and normal intestinal mucosa samples were collected. After optimizing the sample concentrations for homogenization (pre-treatment), the samples were stabilized using a hydroxyphenyl-containing derivative and the relevant metabolites were quantified using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The results showed that cysteine persulfide and cysteine trisulfide levels were higher in colon cancer tissues than in normal mucosal tissues. Thus, sulphur metabolism, possibly sulphur respiration, is enhanced in colon cancer tissues.