Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Non-Invasive PET/MR Imaging in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Published on: August 31, 2022
[(Methyl)1-(11)c]-acetate metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma
Nicolas Salem1, Yu Kuang, David Corn
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
Purpose:
Studies have established the value of [(methyl)1-(11)C]-acetate ([(11)C]Act) combined with 2-deoxy-2[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using positron emission tomography (PET). In this study, the metabolic fate of [(11)C]Act in HCC was characterized.
Methods:
Experiments with acetic acid [1-(14)C] sodium salt ([(14)C]Act) were carried out on WCH-17 cells and freshly derived rat hepatocytes. PET scans with [(11)C]Act were also carried out on woodchucks with HCC before injection of [(14)C]Act. The radioactivity levels in different metabolites were quantified with thin-layer chromatography.
Results:
In WCH-17 cells, the predominant metabolite was phosphatidylcholine (PC). Regions of HCCs with the highest [(11)C]Act uptake had higher radioactivity accumulation in lipid-soluble compounds than surrounding hepatic tissues. In those regions, PC and triacylglycerol (TG) accumulated more radioactivity than in surrounding hepatic tissues.
Conclusions:
High [(11)C]Act uptake in HCC is associated with increased de novo lipogenesis. PC and TG are the main metabolites into which the radioactive label from [(11)C]Act is incorporated in HCC.
Related Concept Videos
Phase II Reactions: Acetylation Reactions
The substrates for acetylation are typically drugs or their metabolites with an amino, sulfonamide, or hydrazine functional group. Acetylation can occur at several points in the drug molecule, including primary, secondary, and...
Phase II Reactions: Methylation Reactions
The mechanism of methylation unfolds in two stages. The first stage sees a methyltransferase enzyme facilitating the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the substrate, forming S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). The second stage involves further metabolism of SAH into homocysteine, which can be recycled...
Pharmacogenetics of Phase II Enzymes: N-acetyltransferase, Thiopurine S-methyltransferase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase
Carboxylic Acids to Methylesters: Alkylation using Diazomethane
Phase II Reactions: Glutathione Conjugation and Mercapturic Acid Formation
Several distinctive characteristics distinguish glutathione conjugation from other phase II...

