Judy S. Hwang1, Sabrina M. Ronen1
1Radiology and Biomedical Imaging,
University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
Perifosine
is a novel anticancer alkylphospholipid that is in clinical trials for
treatment of cancer. This study investigates the changes in choline
metabolism of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells modulated by perifosine
treatment. Cells were incubated with 13C labeled choline and 1H,
13C, and 31P MR spectra of cell extracts were
recorded. The overall inhibition of
phosphatidylcholine synthesis via the Kennedy pathway was observed upon
treatment. The accumulation of perifosine was also detected in the cell membrane.
The observed changes in choline metabolism upon perifosine treatment could
reflect its mechanism of action or its effect on PI3K signaling.