Novel insight into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and related metabolites in cancer patients undergoing surgery

Abstract

Abstract Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) plays a pivotal role in numerous cellular functions. Reduced NAD+ levels are postulated to be associated with cancer. As interest in understanding NAD+ dynamics in cancer patients with therapeutic applications in mind grows, there remains a shortage of comprehensive data. This study delves into NAD+ dynamics in patients undergoing surgery for different digestive system cancers. This prospective study enrolled 99 patients with eight different cancers. Fasting blood samples were obtained during the perioperative period. The concentrations of NAD+, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), and nicotinamide riboside were analyzed using tandem mass spectrometry. Initial measurements showed lower NAD+ concentrations in cancer patients compared to previously studied healthy donors. After erythrocyte volume adjustment, NAD+ remained relatively stable after surgery. Meanwhile, NMN decreased the day after surgery and displayed a recovery trend. Interestingly, liver and pancreatic cancer patients exhibited poor postoperative NMN recovery, suggesting a potential cancer type-specific influence on NAD+ metabolism. This study illuminated the behavior of NAD+ in surgically treated cancer patients. We identified which cancer types have particularly low levels and at what point depletion occurs during the perioperative period. These insights suggest the need for personalized NAD+ supplementation strategies, calibrated to individual patient needs and treatment timelines. Clinical trial registration jRCT1020210066