Characterization of Human Prostate Cancer, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Normal Prostate by in vitro¹H and³¹P Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Abstract

In vitro 1H and 31P magnetic resonance spectra were acquired from perchloric acid extracts of human prostate tissue obtained by transurethral resection. This included tissue of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic adenocarcinoma; one tissue sample was obtained from a patient without any sign of BPH or malignancy. Major resonances in the magnetic resonance spectra were assigned to prostate compounds and were quantified. The citrate/lactate, citrate/total choline, phosphocholine/total creatinine, choline/total creatine, alanine/total creatine, phosphoethanolamine/total phosphate, phosphocholine/total phosphate and glycerophosphoethanolamine/total phosphate ratios were statistically different for the prostate cancer samples as compared with the BPH specimens. These observations may contribute to the understanding of in vivo magnetic resonance spectra of the prostate and indicate that magnetic resonance spectroscopy can aid in the diagnosis of prostate malignancy.

Citrate in the diagnosis of prostate cancer

“…These studies corroborated the earlier studies of Schnall et al [19]. Applying 1H MRS spectroscopy to resected prostate tissue samples, Fowler et al [20] and Cornel et al [21] corroborated the findings of decreased citrate in PCa as observed in situ. Currently, both rigid and expandable endorectal coils are available for performing spectroscopic imaging of the human prostate in situ, with each having inherent advantages and disadvantages.…”

Hyperpolarized C‐13 spectroscopic imaging of the TRAMP mouse at 3T—Initial experience

“…It can be speculated that the loss of citrate producing metabolism is associated with the increased need for energy in the process of malignancy. In addition, increased anaerobic metabolism can also play a role in supplying the energy requirements of cancerous tissue (22). If these and other metabolic transformations can be observed in vivo at different stages of malignancy, they may provide valuable information for the diagnosis, characterization, and treatment planning of prostate cancer.…”

Combined magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopic imaging approach to molecular imaging of prostate cancer

“…Phosphatidylcholine is the most abundant phospholipid in biological membranes, and together with other phospholipids, such as phosphatidylethanolamine and neutral lipids, it forms the characteristic bilayer structure of cells and regulates membrane integrity and function (50,51). High-resolution 31 P and 1 H NMR studies of surgical prostate cancer tissue extracts have demonstrated that many of the compounds involved in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis and hydrolysis (choline, phosphocholine, glycerophosphocholine, ethanolamine, phosphoethanolamine, and glycerophosphoethanolamine) contribute to the magnitude of the in vivo "choline" resonance (52)(53)(54)(55)(56). There is also evidence that changes in the cytosolic levels of these phospholipid metabolites correlate with cellular proliferation (57-60) and cellular differentiation (61)(62)(63).…”