Metabolic analysis and identification of potential biomarkers of early-stage melanoma lung metastasis

• Platelet activation is a critical early event in melanoma lung metastasis, facilitating tumor cell survival. • NMR-based metabolomics reveals distinct metabolic alterations in lung tissues during early metastasis, particularly in energy and amino acid metabolism. • Methylxanthine and allantoin are identified as potential biomarkers for early detection of lung metastasis. • The study provides novel insights into early diagnostic strategies for metastatic cancer, potentially improving patient outcomes.