Effect of an mTOR inhibitor rapamycin on pyruvate metabolism in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) xenografts was investigated using hyperpolarized 13C-MRI. [1-13C]lactate to [1-13C]pyruvate ratio (Lac/Pyr) in the SCC tumors increased as tumor grew in non-treated control mice, whereas it significantly dropped after 2 days of the rapamycin treatment. Inhibition of mTOR caused a drop of LDH protein level and the activity in the SCC tumor, and perfusion in the tumor was improved by the rapamycin treatment. Lac/Pyr monitored using hyperpolarized 13C-MRI would become a useful marker for tumor response to mTOR inhibitors.
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