The group of Dr. Christoph Trautwein published two Papers this month

Recently, the group of Dr. Christoph Trautwein published two Papers: "NMR-based serum metabolite and lipoprotein profiling for endometriosis across clinically relevant and physiological comparator settings: assessment of diagnostic utility and exploratory biological signals" and, together with Prof. Dr. med Dr. rer. nat. Ghazaleh Tabatabai, "Differential modulation of glioma metabolism and the tumor microenvironment following dexamethasone and bevacizumab treatment". 

In "NMR-based serum metabolite and lipoprotein profiling for endometriosis across clinically relevant and physiological comparator settings: assessment of diagnostic utility and exploratory biological signals", published in BMC Medicine, the research investigates whether blood-based metabolic profiling could support the diagnosis of endometriosis, a chronic gynecological disease that often requires invasive procedures for definitive diagnosis.

Using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectroscopy, the researchers analyzed serum metabolites and lipoproteins from women with endometriosis alongside clinically relevant comparator groups. Rather than comparing patients only with healthy controls, the study included women with similar symptoms and physiological conditions to better reflect real-world diagnostic challenges.

The analysis identified metabolic differences associated with endometriosis, demonstrating that the disease is accompanied by measurable systemic metabolic alterations. However, the researchers found that the diagnostic performance of the identified metabolic signatures was insufficient for clinical implementation as a standalone diagnostic test.

The findings highlight both the opportunities and current limitations of serum metabolomics for endometriosis diagnosis. While the approach improves understanding of disease-associated metabolic changes and may contribute to future biomarker development, additional research will be required before blood-based metabolic profiling can become part of routine clinical diagnostics.

The study provides an important benchmark for the ongoing search for reliable, non-invasive biomarkers that could help reduce diagnostic delays for women with endometriosis.

Reference:

Deng, S., et al. BMC Med 24, 362 (17 June 2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-026-04999-2

Whereas, in "Differential modulation of glioma metabolism and the tumor microenvironment following dexamethasone and bevacizumab treatment", published in Neuro-Oncology Advances, the study reports that two commonly used anti-edema therapies—dexamethasone and bevacizumab—have markedly different effects on glioblastoma biology beyond their shared ability to reduce cerebral edema.

Led by the team of Prof. Dr. med Dr. rer. nat. Ghazaleh Tabatabai, the researchers combined metabolomic analyses with in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models to investigate how each treatment influences tumor metabolism and the immune microenvironment.

The study found that dexamethasone promotes metabolic changes associated with an immunosuppressive tumor environment, including reduced infiltration of cytotoxic T cells and conditions that may limit anti-tumor immune responses.

In contrast, bevacizumab induced a distinct biological response. Treatment was associated with increased immune cell infiltration, reduced numbers of regulatory T cells, enhanced activation of cytotoxic T cells and improved immune-mediated tumor cell killing.

These findings suggest that anti-edema therapies are not biologically interchangeable. Beyond controlling brain swelling, the choice of treatment may influence tumor metabolism and the immune landscape, with potential implications for therapeutic strategies, particularly in the context of emerging immunotherapies for glioblastoma.

The study provides new insight into how supportive treatments can shape the tumor microenvironment and underscores the importance of considering their broader biological effects when managing patients with glioblastoma.

Reference:

Maise, L., et al. Neuro-Oncology Advances, vdag147 (08 June 2026). https://doi.org/10.1093/noajnl/vdag147