Mrs-based Metabolomics in Cancer Research

Abstract

Metabolomics is a relatively new technique that is gaining importance very rapidly. MRS-based metabolomics, in particular, is becoming a useful tool in the study of body fluids, tissue biopsies and whole organisms. Advances in analytical techniques and data analysis methods have opened a new opportunity for such technology to contribute in the field of diagnostics. In the MRS approach to the diagnosis of disease, it is important that the analysis utilizes all the essential information in the spectra, is robust, and is non-subjective. Although some of the data analytic methods widely used in chemical and biological sciences are sketched, a more extensive discussion is given of a 5-stage Statistical Classification Strategy. This proposes powerful feature selection methods, based on, for example, genetic algorithms and novel projection techniques. The applications of MRS-based metabolomics in breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, hepatobiliary cancers, gastric cancer, and brain cancer have been reviewed. While the majority of these applications relate to body fluids and tissue biopsies, some in vivo applications have also been included. It should be emphasized that the number of subjects studied must be sufficiently large to ensure a robust diagnostic classification. Before MRS-based metabolomics can become a widely used clinical tool, however, certain challenges need to be overcome. These include manufacturing user-friendly commercial instruments with all the essential features, and educating physicians and medical technologists in the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of metabolomics data.

Breast Tissue Metabolism by Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

“…HRMAS 1 H MRS of intact breast cancer tissue specimens showed a highly resolved spectral profile with better resolution and immense diagnostic potential [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. In these specimens, a number of resonances from amino acids (including alanine, asparagine, aspartate, histidine, leucine, isoleucine, glutamate, glutamine, glycine (Gly), lysine, tyrosine, and valine), energy metabolites (glucose and lactate), choline containing compounds (GPC, PCho and Cho), and lactate were observed.…”

Breast Tissue Metabolism by Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

“…HRMAS 1 H MRS of intact breast cancer tissue specimens showed a highly resolved spectral profile with better resolution and immense diagnostic potential [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. In these specimens, a number of resonances from amino acids (including alanine, asparagine, aspartate, histidine, leucine, isoleucine, glutamate, glutamine, glycine (Gly), lysine, tyrosine, and valine), energy metabolites (glucose and lactate), choline containing compounds (GPC, PCho and Cho), and lactate were observed.…”

Technological advancements in cancer diagnostics: Improvements and limitations

“…These changes in frequency are measured which can provide data regarding the composition of the area being imaged 53 . Rather than providing images of soft tissues, MRS quantifies various compounds like lactate, phosphocreatine (PCr), nucleotide triphosphate (NTP), phosphate monoesters, and inorganic phosphates; it also functions to determine the presence and varying amounts of these compounds in different target tissues which can potentially signify an abnormality 54 . The presence of lactate at the long time of echo (TE) when analyzing the brain indicates a pathological irregularity, suggesting the presence of a malignant lesion 52 .…”

“…53 Rather than providing images of soft tissues, MRS quantifies various compounds like lactate, phosphocreatine (PCr), nucleotide triphosphate (NTP), phosphate monoesters, and inorganic phosphates; it also functions to determine the presence and varying amounts of these compounds in different target tissues which can potentially signify an abnormality. 54 The presence of lactate at the long time of echo (TE) when analyzing the brain indicates a pathological irregularity, suggesting the presence of a malignant lesion. 52 MRS detects metabolic changes in tumors such as total choline (Cho) levels and ratios with other metabolites which may suggest the proliferative potential and aggressiveness of the cancer tissue.…”

NMR Based Methods for Metabolites Analysis

“…In clinical application, 1D 1 H NMR or magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is used to detect and measure cellular metabolites, aiding in the early diagnosis of diseases. 26 , 27 For example, Ana Gil and co-workers identified and evaluated metabolites in saliva using 1 H NMR in 2020. 28 Employing 1D 1 H NMR, they successfully identified various metabolites in the saliva of standard healthy adults under different conditions after collection ( Figure 1 ).…”

Breast Tissue Metabolism by Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

“…HRMAS 1 H MRS of intact breast cancer tissue specimens showed a highly resolved spectral profile with better resolution and immense diagnostic potential [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. In these specimens, a number of resonances from amino acids (including alanine, asparagine, aspartate, histidine, leucine, isoleucine, glutamate, glutamine, glycine (Gly), lysine, tyrosine, and valine), energy metabolites (glucose and lactate), choline containing compounds (GPC, PCho and Cho), and lactate were observed.…”

Technological advancements in cancer diagnostics: Improvements and limitations

“…These changes in frequency are measured which can provide data regarding the composition of the area being imaged 53 . Rather than providing images of soft tissues, MRS quantifies various compounds like lactate, phosphocreatine (PCr), nucleotide triphosphate (NTP), phosphate monoesters, and inorganic phosphates; it also functions to determine the presence and varying amounts of these compounds in different target tissues which can potentially signify an abnormality 54 . The presence of lactate at the long time of echo (TE) when analyzing the brain indicates a pathological irregularity, suggesting the presence of a malignant lesion 52 .…”

“…53 Rather than providing images of soft tissues, MRS quantifies various compounds like lactate, phosphocreatine (PCr), nucleotide triphosphate (NTP), phosphate monoesters, and inorganic phosphates; it also functions to determine the presence and varying amounts of these compounds in different target tissues which can potentially signify an abnormality. 54 The presence of lactate at the long time of echo (TE) when analyzing the brain indicates a pathological irregularity, suggesting the presence of a malignant lesion. 52 MRS detects metabolic changes in tumors such as total choline (Cho) levels and ratios with other metabolites which may suggest the proliferative potential and aggressiveness of the cancer tissue.…”

NMR Based Methods for Metabolites Analysis

“…In clinical application, 1D 1 H NMR or magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is used to detect and measure cellular metabolites, aiding in the early diagnosis of diseases. 26 , 27 For example, Ana Gil and co-workers identified and evaluated metabolites in saliva using 1 H NMR in 2020. 28 Employing 1D 1 H NMR, they successfully identified various metabolites in the saliva of standard healthy adults under different conditions after collection ( Figure 1 ).…”

Breast Tissue Metabolism by Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

“…HRMAS 1 H MRS of intact breast cancer tissue specimens showed a highly resolved spectral profile with better resolution and immense diagnostic potential [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. In these specimens, a number of resonances from amino acids (including alanine, asparagine, aspartate, histidine, leucine, isoleucine, glutamate, glutamine, glycine (Gly), lysine, tyrosine, and valine), energy metabolites (glucose and lactate), choline containing compounds (GPC, PCho and Cho), and lactate were observed.…”

Technological advancements in cancer diagnostics: Improvements and limitations

“…These changes in frequency are measured which can provide data regarding the composition of the area being imaged 53 . Rather than providing images of soft tissues, MRS quantifies various compounds like lactate, phosphocreatine (PCr), nucleotide triphosphate (NTP), phosphate monoesters, and inorganic phosphates; it also functions to determine the presence and varying amounts of these compounds in different target tissues which can potentially signify an abnormality 54 . The presence of lactate at the long time of echo (TE) when analyzing the brain indicates a pathological irregularity, suggesting the presence of a malignant lesion 52 .…”

“…53 Rather than providing images of soft tissues, MRS quantifies various compounds like lactate, phosphocreatine (PCr), nucleotide triphosphate (NTP), phosphate monoesters, and inorganic phosphates; it also functions to determine the presence and varying amounts of these compounds in different target tissues which can potentially signify an abnormality. 54 The presence of lactate at the long time of echo (TE) when analyzing the brain indicates a pathological irregularity, suggesting the presence of a malignant lesion. 52 MRS detects metabolic changes in tumors such as total choline (Cho) levels and ratios with other metabolites which may suggest the proliferative potential and aggressiveness of the cancer tissue.…”

NMR Based Methods for Metabolites Analysis

“…In clinical application, 1D 1 H NMR or magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is used to detect and measure cellular metabolites, aiding in the early diagnosis of diseases. 26 , 27 For example, Ana Gil and co-workers identified and evaluated metabolites in saliva using 1 H NMR in 2020. 28 Employing 1D 1 H NMR, they successfully identified various metabolites in the saliva of standard healthy adults under different conditions after collection ( Figure 1 ).…”