title: Utility of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for pancreatic cancer studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were (1) to determine nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic characteristics and metabolite profiles of serum samples from patients with pancreatic cancer compared with noncancerous control samples and (2) to ascertain if the accuracy of metabolite identification by 1D spectra can be improved upon by confirmation of spin-system assignment using more sophisticated experiments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, including 1D, total correlation spectroscopy, and heteronuclear multiple/single quantum coherence, were obtained from serum samples from patients with pancreatic cancer and control subjects and used to determine serum levels of a range of metabolites.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data show that total choline (P = 0.03), taurine (P = 0.03), and glucose plus triglycerides (P = 0.01) are significantly higher in cancer versus control samples. Also detected were species that could not be individually identified and that were designated UCM (unresolved complex matter). Levels of UCM are significantly higher in subjects with cancer, being almost double those of control samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although metabolites such as lactate, taurine, glucose, choline, and triglycerides can be determined from 1D spectra, accuracy is improved by confirmation of spin-system assignment with total correlation spectroscopy and heteronuclear multiple/single quantum coherence spectral analysis. In addition, we introduce a new metric, UCM, which is at higher concentrations in cancer compared with control samples.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Magnetic Resonance Center, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA. Yasvir-Tesiram@omrf.org
authors.forename: Yasvir A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Tesiram
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lerner
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Charity
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Njoku
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Brackett
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002794:Choline / Q000097:blood; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D055432:Metabolomics / Q000379:methods*; D009825:Oklahoma; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013654:Taurine / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001786:Blood Glucose; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D014280:Triglycerides; D013654:Taurine; D019344:Lactic Acid; D002794:Choline