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Enrichment and Characterization of the Tumor Immune and Non-immune Microenvironments in Established Subcutaneous Murine Tumors
Published on: June 7, 2018
10.1K
Metabolomic approaches to study the tumor microenvironment.
Giuseppe Astarita1, Suraj Dhungana2, Bindesh Shrestha2
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States.
Methods in Enzymology
|March 18, 2020
Summary
Tumor metabolic reprogramming impacts disease progression. Analyzing tumor metabolites using metabolomics and mass spectrometry imaging aids in understanding pathology and identifying disease biomarkers for improved therapeutic strategies.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Oncology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Tumors exhibit significant metabolic dysregulation and reprogramming.
- Metabolites within the tumor microenvironment serve crucial roles in energy mediation and signaling.
- Understanding tumor metabolism is key to advancing cancer pathology and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present protocols for metabolite and lipid extraction and analysis.
- To highlight the application of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and mass spectrometry imaging (MSI).
- To emphasize the importance of metabolomics in understanding tumor pathology and identifying biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- Protocols for metabolite and lipid extraction.
- Analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).
- Spatial distribution analysis via mass spectrometry imaging (MSI).
Main Results:
- Established protocols for comprehensive metabolite and lipid analysis.
- Demonstrated the utility of LC-MS for quantitative and qualitative metabolite profiling.
- Showcased MSI for visualizing the spatial distribution of metabolites in tumor tissues.
Conclusions:
- Metabolomics provides critical insights into the physiological and pathological status of tumors.
- Metabolite analysis can identify potential biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognosis.
- Combined techniques like LC-MS and MSI offer powerful tools for tumor microenvironment characterization.

