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Diagnostic and Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine for Neuroendocrine Tumors pp 239–250Cite as

Tumor Metabolism and Metabolomics of Pheochromocytomas and Paragangliomas

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Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

Abstract

Tumor metabolism is one of the recognized hallmarks of cancer. Investigations into the distinct metabolism of tumor cells compared to normal untransformed cells were initiated almost a century ago by Otto Warburg. Technical advances, especially in chromatography, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET), have improved our understanding of the metabolic changes in tumors, including in pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs). PPGLs due to mutations in Krebs cycle genes, including succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) subunits, fumarate hydratase (FH), and malate dehydrogenase 2 (MDH2), in particular illustrate how metabolism is linked to downstream cellular signaling pathways involved in tumorigenesis. Such changes in metabolism can provide useful biomarkers for diagnosis and disease stratification. Changes in metabolism can also impact stromal cells of the tumor microenvironment, which can contribute to energy requirements of mutated tumor cells. Elucidation of the underlying changes in metabolism is further enabling identification of potential metabolic targets for therapeutic intervention.

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Abbreviations

ATP:

Adenosine triphosphate

FH:

Fumarate hydratase

HIF:

Hypoxia-inducible factor

MAX:

Myc-associated factor X

MDH2:

Mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase

MYCV:

Myc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog

NF1:

Neurofibromin 1

NMR:

Nuclear magnetic resonance

PET:

Positron emission tomography

PHDs:

Prolyl hydroxylases

PPGL:

Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma

RCC:

Renal cell carcinoma

RET proto-oncogene:

Rearranged during transfection proto-oncogene

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SDH:

Succinate dehydrogenase

VHL:

Von Hippel–Lindau

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    Susan Richter PhD & Graeme Eisenhofer PhD

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  1. Susan Richter PhD
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  2. Graeme Eisenhofer PhD
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Correspondence to Susan Richter PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Section on Medical Neuroendocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    Karel Pacak

  2. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France

    David Taïeb

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Richter, S., Eisenhofer, G. (2017). Tumor Metabolism and Metabolomics of Pheochromocytomas and Paragangliomas. In: Pacak, K., Taïeb, D. (eds) Diagnostic and Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine for Neuroendocrine Tumors. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46038-3_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46038-3_11

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