Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metabolism: Imaging by Hyperpolarized 13C Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metabolism: Imaging by Hyperpolarized 13C Magnetic Resonance
Spectroscopy

A characteristic feature of cancer cells is the alteration of their central carbon metabolism. It is generally acknowledged that for energy production cancer cells enhance their utilization of glycolysis and diminish that of oxidative phosphorylation irrespective of oxygen supply [1]. However, although mechanistic explanations for this enhanced glycolytic phenotype are controversial, it is likely due to the need for a versatile method for ATP production to serve as a direct form of energy, or as energy to drive both biosynthesis of vital intermediates for cell growth and provide anaplerotic flux for the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle.