Cancer Cell Metabolites: Updates on Current Tracing Methods

Abstract

Cancer is the second leading cause of death‐1 in 6 deaths globally is due to cancer. Cancer metabolism is a complex and one of the most actively researched area in cancer biology. Metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells entails activities that involve several enzymes and metabolites to convert nutrient into building blocks that alter energy metabolism to fuel rapid cell division. Metabolic dependencies in cancer generate signature metabolites that have key regulatory roles in tumorigenesis. In this minireview, we highlight recent advances in the popular methods ingrained in biochemistry research such as stable and flux isotope analysis, as well as radioisotope labeling, which are valuable in elucidating cancer metabolites. These methods together with analytical tools such as chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry have helped to bring about exploratory work in understanding the role of important as well as obscure metabolites in cancer cells. Information obtained from these analyses significantly contribute in the diagnosis and prognosis of tumors leading to potential therapeutic targets for cancer therapy.

Metabolismo energético de células tumorais e suas implicações no diagnóstico e terapia do câncer

“…Para rastrear os diferentes metabólitos correlacionados com diagnósticos e prognósticos de câncer, vários métodos analíticos estão sendo empregados na pesquisa básica e clínica, como espectrometria de massas, cromatografia líquida e gasosa e ressonância magnética nuclear (RMN). Têm sido utilizados isótopos estáveis marcados para rastrear diferentes vias metabólicas, como: PPP, glicólise, CAC e síntese de novo de lipídeos, bem como a análise de perfil metabolômico para identificação de biomarcadores associados ao metabolismo tumoral 44 . Saúde Meio Ambient.…”

“…Um grande exemplo com relevância clínica é a FDG-PET (tomografia por emissão de pósitrons com fluorodeoxiglicose), a qual usa um análogo da glicose radiomarcada, para observar captação de glicose e glicólise nos diferentes tecidos do organismo, via imageamento. Assim, o PET-scan permite desde a verificação de presença de tumores e seu estadiamento, até o acompanhamento das respostas terapêuticas do paciente 44 . A literatura já aborda também o imageamento por PETscan usando lactato 17 e glutamina 44 radiomarcados, o que parece ser promissor, visto que estas moléculas acabam sendo utilizadas como combustíveis alternativos para o metabolismo energético de tumores 44 .…”

X-ray photoabsorption-induced processes within protonated rifamycin sodium salts in the gas phase

“…3 Top: mass spectra of the sodiated rifamycin dimer after absorption of one soft X-ray photon; bottom: zoom of the mass spectrum at 100 eV photon energy in the m/z range where peaks assigned to rifamycin monomers as well as loss of neutral molecules are observed assign it to C 1 +Na. 1 Since Na is initially bound to the naphthofuran group in sodiated rifamycin, it indicates that sodium has been transferred to the other side of the molecule. Unlike proton transfer, gas-phase sodium transfer after ionization of molecular systems has not been reported yet, to the best of our knowledge.…”

“…Unlike proton transfer, gas-phase sodium transfer after ionization of molecular systems has not been reported yet, to the best of our knowledge. However, previous mass spectrometric studies involving sodium transfer do exist: for instance, Liang et al [31] have observed sodium transfer from doubly sodiated glycerophosphocholine lipids to azobenzene radical anions in the gas phase, Blagojevic and Bohme 1 As stated in the experimental section, to spot background peaks for each photon energy, we record a mass spectrum with the photon beam on and the ESI off, and another mass spectrum with the beam off and the ESI on. We did not find any signal at m/z 416 in any of these spectra.…”

“…. ), but also in the tracing of cancer cell metabolites [1] or the characterization of ligand-receptor noncovalent complexes [2]. Mass spectrometry also allows analyzing the product ions from interactions between ionizing radiation and biomolecular systems in the gas phase with the aim of shedding light on the radiation-induced physical and chemical processes on the molecular level.…”