Biological and NMR markers for cancer

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Metabonomics

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabonomics is gaining popularity in drug discovery and development and in academia in a variety of settings, ranging from toxicology, preclinical, and clinical approaches to nutrition research, studies on microorganisms, and research on plants. This chapter focuses on the basic steps in a metabonomics study and emphasizes experience and lessons learned in our lab where we focused on metabonomic analyses of plant extracts, cell lines, and a variety of animal tissues and biofluids. We emphasize that a comprehensive and suitable study design is pivotal for a correct biological interpretation of the results, as well as highly controlled experimental conditions. Sample preparation and NMR protocols are detailed for a wide range of sample types. We discuss alternative data processing strategies and considerations for a general data analysis approach, paying particular attention to the statistical interpretation and validation of the results while also highlighting approaches to avoid possible pitfalls resulting from systematic and random errors. A tutorial written for the R statistical package and other small utilities are available from the authors upon request.

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN SURGICAL ONCOLOGY: I - ON THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECTRUM

The discovery of the phenomenon of nuclear magnetic resonance occurred just 60 years ago. The profusion of subsequent discoveries in this domain has led to the development of magnetic resonance spectroscopy - refined as an analytical tool to discern molecular structure - and magnetic resonance imaging, a cornerstone of modern radiology. Observable alterations in cellular structure and metabolism can be discerned using the non-destructive chemical analysis of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in vitro or in vivo. Differences may thus be discerned between malignant and normal tissues.

Cell and membrane lipid analysis by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in five breast cancer cell lines

The lipid composition of five human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, T47D, ZR-75-1, SKBR3 and MDA-MB231) was assessed by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in whole cells and membrane-enriched fractions. The proportions of the three main lipid resonances in 1D spectra were different for each cell line. These resonances included mobile methyl and methylene functions from fatty acids of triglycerides and phospholipids and N-trimethyl from choline of phospholipids. T47D and ZR-75-1 cells presented a high methylene/methyl ratio (6.02 +/- 0.35 and 6.28 +/- 0.90). This ratio was significantly lower for SKBR3, MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cells (2.76 +/- 0.22, 2.27 +/- 0.57 and 1.39 +/- 0.39). The N-trimethyl/methyl ratio was high for MDA-MB231 and SKBR3 cells (1.38 +/- 0.54 and 0.86 +/- 0.32), but lower for MCF-7, T47D and ZR-75-1 cells (0.49 +/- 0.11, 0.16 +/- 0.07 and 0.07 +/- 0.03). 2D COSY spectra confirmed these different proportions in mobile lipids. From 1D spectra obtained on membrane preparations, T47D and ZR-75-1 were the only cell lines to retain a signal from mobile methylene functions. These differences might be related to the heterogeneity found for several parameters of these cells (tumorigenicity, growth rate, hormone receptors); an extended number of cases from fresh samples might enable clinical correlations.

Studies of human tumors by MRS: a review

The literature describing 31P, 1H, 13C, 23Na and 19F MRS in vivo in human cancers is reviewed. Cancers have typical metabolic characteristics in 31P and 1H MRS including high levels of phospholipid metabolites and a cellular pH more alkaline than normal. These alone are not specific for cancer but are diagnostic in appropriate clinical settings. Some metabolic characteristics appear to be prognostic indices and correlation with treatment response is emerging as an important potentially cost-effective use of MRS in oncology. 19F MRS examines pharmacokinetics of 5-fluorouracil and by demonstrating its retention predicts response of a cancer to treatment. Current needs include improvement of diagnostic specificity by use of techniques like multivoxel MRS, proton decoupling of 31P, short echo time and fat-suppressed 1H MRS, 13C MRS direct or via 1H-observe, and statistical analysis of multiple spectral features. Trials in large populations in well defined clinical settings are needed to determine if MRS can provide independent prognostic indices useful in cancer management.