NMR*- based Metabolomics Research in Cancer
Despite progress in early detection and therapeutic strategies, cancer remains a leading cause of death globally. Due to the heterogeneity and complex tumor biology, cancer patients with similar diagnoses might have different prognoses and responses to treatment. Metabolomics is the branch of “omics” technologies that involves high-throughput identification and quantification of small-molecule metabolites in the metabolome.
Cancer cells must be able to convert nutrients to biomass while maintaining energy production, which requires reprogramming of central metabolic processes. This phenomenon is increasingly recognized as a potential target for treatment, but also as a source for biomarkers that can be used for prognosis, risk stratification, and therapy monitoring.
NMR*-based metabolomics research in cancer could cover aspects in the analytical pipeline to enable identification of prognostic and predictive biomarkers by:
- Enabling different cancer types associated with specific metabolic signatures
- Providing important information at all stages of the cancer timeline
- Enhancing clinical translation by workflow standardization, data validation process, multi-center studies, and data-sharing
We interviewed some of our customers and asked about interesting insights on their cancer research with NMR.
Breast Cancer Research with NMR at University of Norway
Tone Frost Bathen
Breast Cancer Research at University Norway
Prof. MR technology, Head of NMR cancer Group NTNU, Norway
Cancer Research with NMR at University Tübingen
Christoph Trautwein
Group Leader Metabolomics and Systems Medicine
University Hospital Tübingen, Germany
* Research use only. Bruker NMR instruments are not intended for use in clinical diagnostic procedures.
