Breast Cancer Cell Metabolism Studied by MRS
Abstract
Many breast tumors progress from estrogen-dependent growth to a more malignant phenotype, characterized by estrogen-independence, anti-estrogen resistance, and high metastatic potential. We have investigated this transition utilizing magnetic resonance (MR) techniques on a series of cell lines selected to reflect the characteristics of this progression. Using phosphorus-3 1 MR spectroscopy we monitored intracellular phosphate-containing molecules, and found significant differences between the ER+ and ER cell lines only for the diphosphodiester components that we assigned to UDPG's (where G is glucose and galactose). We added a series of anti-cancer drugs, and found a significant increase in the glycerylphosphocholine (GPC) signal with the anti-microtubule drugs, and showed that this was not due to cell cycle effects by carrying out cell synchronization experiments. We also developed and applied proton diffusion weighted (DW) MRS to the cell lines to observe intra-cellular metabolites. While many peaks were unchanged between the cell lines, some peak ratios showed differences between two groups of cell lines. We were able to observe the intra-cellular lactate resonance, and to monitor its increase upon the addition of the anti-cancer agent lonidamine. These results add to our understanding of these cell lines and may be of value in future clinical MR applications to breast cancer treatment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA382937
Entities
People
- Raymond L. Woosley
Organizations
- Georgetown University