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Astrocytomas: Role of Taurine in Apoptosis Using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

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Tumors of the Central Nervous System, Volume 5

Part of the book series: Tumors of the Central Nervous System ((TCNS,volume 5))

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Abstract

New cancer therapies are being developed that trigger tumor apoptosis and in vivo methods of apoptotic detection and early treatment response would be of great value. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can determine a tumor’s biochemical profile in vivo and this work investigates whether a specific spectroscopic signature exists for apoptosis in human astrocytomas. High-resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) 1H MRS provides detailed 1H spectra of brain tumor biopsies for direct correlation with histopathology. Metabolites, mobile lipids and macromolecules were quantified from presaturation HRMAS 1H spectra acquired from 41 biopsies of grades II (n = 8), III (n = 3) and IV (n = 30) astrocytomas. Subsequently, TUNEL and Haematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) staining provided quantification of apoptosis, cell density and necrosis. Taurine was found to significantly correlate with apoptotic cell density (TUNEL) in both non-necrotic (R = 0.727, p = 0.003) and necrotic (R = 0.626, p = 0.0005) biopsies. However, the ca 2.8 ppm polyunsaturated fatty acid peak, observed in other studies as a marker of apoptosis, correlated only in non-necrotic biopsies (R = 0.705, p < 0.005). Thus, the taurine 1H MRS signal in astrocytomas may be a robust apoptotic biomarker that is independent of tumor necrotic status.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Clinical Sciences, St. George’s, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK

    Kirstie S. Opstad

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  1. Kirstie S. Opstad
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Correspondence to Kirstie S. Opstad .

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  1. , Kean University, Room 213, Library building, Morris Avenue 1000, Union, 07083, New Jersey, USA

    M.A. Hayat

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Opstad, K.S. (2012). Astrocytomas: Role of Taurine in Apoptosis Using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. In: Hayat, M. (eds) Tumors of the Central Nervous System, Volume 5. Tumors of the Central Nervous System, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2019-0_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2019-0_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-007-2018-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-2019-0

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