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Abstract #0566

Imaging of Elevated Branched Chain Amino Acid Metabolism in Tumors with Hyperpolarized 13C Ketoisocaproate

Magnus Karlsson1,2, Pernille Rose Jensen1,2, Rene in 't Zandt1,3, Georg Hansson1, Anna Gisselsson1,3, Jensen Duus4, Sebastian Meier4, Mathilde Hauge Lerche1,2

1Imagnia AB, Malmoe, Sweden; 2Albeda Research Aps, Valby, Denmark; 3Eijdo Research AB, Malmoe, Sweden; 4Carslberg Research Center, Valby, Denmark


Hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy has in many cases the potential to deliver the sensitivity and detailed spectral information to report on the chemical fate of tracer molecules in different tissues. In a preclinical study we here show that -ketoisocaproic acid (KIC) can be used to assess molecular signatures of tumors using hyperpolarized MR spectroscopy. KIC is metabolized to leucine by the enzyme branched-chain aminotransferase (BCAT), which is a putative marker for metastasis and a target of the proto-oncogene c-myc.