Determination of serum catecholamine metabolites in neuroblastoma by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

A method for determining serum catecholamine metabolites such as vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol (MHPG) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in neuroblastoma by using high performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detector is described. The separation of catecholamine metabolites was performed on a reverse phase column with an eluting system containing citric acid-potassium hydrogen phosphate buffer and methanol as the organic modifier. The experimental results showed that VMA and HVA levels in the serum of neuroblastoma patients were 15-30 times higher than that of the normal control group. The same phenomenon also occurred in patients with stage II neuroblastoma. Serum VMA, MHPG and HVA levels reduced to normal in patients suffering from neuroblastoma after surgery. Serum catecholamine metabolites analysed by using HPLC/ECD is more simple, sensitive and reliable than that by usual urine assay and might be used for the diagnosis of neuroblastoma even in early stage.