[Study of malignant melanoma using 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy]

1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to study malignant melanoma extract. The aim of this work was to study low molecular weight metabolites soluble in water, which can be helpful for a more detailed understanding of tumor metabolism with a view to using this knowledge for diagnosis. The authors found in a well distinguished spectrum the presence of numerous low molecular weight metabolites such as glutamate, glutamine, choline, inositol, creatine, phosphocreatine, phosphocholine, glucose, acetate, alanine, lactate. It is necessary to correlate these in-vitro findings with a study of the above mentioned metabolites in-vivo. Malignant melanoma is appropriate for this investigative and diagnostic technique because of its superficial localization. (Fig. 1, Ref. 18.)