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Quantitative Mass Spectrometric Profiling of Cancer-cell Proteomes Derived From Liquid and Solid Tumors
Published on: February 27, 2015
Biological stoichiometry in human cancer
James J Elser1, Marcia M Kyle, Marilyn S Smith
1School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America. j.elser@asu.edu
Plos One
|October 11, 2007
Summary
Cancer cells, like ecosystems, have high phosphorus needs for rapid growth. Colon and lung tumors show increased phosphorus and RNA, supporting the Growth Rate Hypothesis, unlike kidney and liver tumors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Eco-evolutionary dynamics
Background:
- Growing tumors are complex ecological and evolutionary systems.
- The Growth Rate Hypothesis (GRH) posits elevated phosphorus (P) demands in tumors for accelerated proliferation.
- Tumors may prioritize P for P-rich nucleic acids like ribosomal RNA to support high protein synthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the elemental (C, N, P) and nucleic acid content of malignant and normal tissues.
- To test the predictions of the Growth Rate Hypothesis (GRH) in human cancers.
- To explore organ-specific differences in tumor P and RNA content.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of elemental (C, N, P) and nucleic acid content in paired tumor and normal tissues from 121 patients.
- Comparison of P, N, and RNA content between malignant and normal tissues across colon, lung, liver, and kidney.
- Correlation analysis of P and RNA content differences between malignant and normal tissues.
Main Results:
- Lung and colon tumors showed approximately a two-fold increase in P and RNA content compared to normal tissues.
- Nitrogen:Phosphorus (N:P) ratio was lower in lung and colon tumors.
- Phosphorus in RNA constituted a larger fraction of total P in malignant tissues.
- No significant differences in P or RNA content were observed in liver and kidney tumors.
- RNA contributed only about 11% of total tissue P content overall.
Conclusions:
- Findings for lung and colon tumors support the GRH in human cancer.
- Elevated P content in colon and lung tumors may lead to P-limitation, impacting proliferation.
- Conflicting results in liver and kidney suggest organ-specific selection pressures (e.g., 'r-selected' vs. 'K-selected' growth strategies).
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