Timothy H. Witney1,2, Roberta Napolitano1,3, Mikko I. Kettunen1,2, Ferdia A. Gallagher2,4, Kevin M. Brindle1,2
1Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; 2Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge, UK; 3Dept. of Chemistry I.F.M, University of Turin, Italy; 4Dept. of Radiology, Addenbrookes Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
In the current study, we compared the flux of hyperpolarized 13C pyruvate to lactate to markers of cell death in drug-resistant MCF-7 human breast cancer cells following treatment with a range of therapeutic agents. The results show that a decrease in pyruvate - lactate exchange coincides with the induction of cell death in breast cancer cells in vitro, with a decrease in exchange not observed in cells that fail to respond to treatment.