Nutrient Metabolism in Brain tumor patients: 13C MR Isotopomer Technology

Cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming to meet their altered bioenergetic needs for growth and proliferation. However, most cancer metabolism studies use isolated cultured cell lines, which may limit their clinical relevance for developing targeted therapies. I have shown the feasibility of studying in vivo metabolic pathways in cancer patients using carbon-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. By intravenously infusing non-radioactive carbon-13 enriched nutrients into brain tumor patients undergoing surgery, I have uncovered new insights into the bioenergetic landscape of brain tumors, including aggressive meningiomas with no available chemotherapy. I will present my discoveries and discuss their clinical relevance.