1H NMR analysis of choline metabolites in fine-needle-aspirate biopsies of breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The relative amounts of choline (Cho), phosphocholine (PC), and glycerophosphocholine (GPC) may be sensitive indicators of breast cancer and the degree of malignancy. Here we implement some simple modifications to a previously developed (1)H NMR analysis of fine-needle-aspirate (FNA) biopsies designed to yield sufficient spectral resolution of Cho, PC, and GPC for usable relative quantitation of these metabolites.


METHODS
FNA biopsies of eighteen breast lesions were examined using our modified procedure for direct (1)H NMR at 400 MHz. Resonances of choline metabolites and potential interferences were fit using the computer program NUTS.


RESULTS
Quantitation of PC, GPC, and Cho relative to each other and to (phospho)creatine was obtained for eleven confirmed cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Reliable results could not be obtained for the remaining cases primarily due to interference from lidocaine anesthetic.


CONCLUSIONS
Some simple modifications of a previously developed (1)H NMR analysis of FNAs yielded sufficient spectral resolution of Cho, PC, and GPC to permit usable relative quantitation at 400 MHz. In 9 of the 11 quantified cases the sum of GPC and Cho exceeded 42 % of the total choline-metabolite peak area.
Center for Imaging Research, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0583, USA.
John M
JM
Pearce
Mary C
MC
Mahoney
Jing-Huei
JH
Lee
Wen-Jang
WJ
Chu
Kim M
KM
Cecil
Stephen M
SM
Strakowski
Richard A
RA
Komoroski
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002794:Choline / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011522:Protons; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011522:Protons; D002794:Choline