Cancer Metabolism

ABSTRACT – CANCER METABOLISM SHARED RESOURCE
The Cancer Metabolism Shared Resource provides comprehensive support for analysis of cancer-related
metabolism by investigators at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute NCI-supported Cancer
Center. The services provided include assistance with the design of metabolic research programs and selection
of appropriate analytical methods, sample analysis using specialized equipment and methods, assistance with
data interpretation and publication (including response to reviewers), and assistance with grant proposals. Dr.
Scott, the facility Director, has extensive experience in metabolic analysis and serves as a resource for Center
members, educating scientists about the services offered, working to upgrade existing methods, and expanding
the range of analyses provided, both in response to requests from users and proactively in anticipation of future
demand. The Core provides three fundamental types of analysis. The first is quantitation of metabolites, either
through GC-MS analysis or a 96-well YSI analyzer. In the past funding period (the first for this Shared Resource),
a variety of enhancements have been made in quantification of metabolites such as fatty acids (including short-
chain fatty acids), cholesterol, sugars, and sugar phosphates, as well as more standard detection of glucose,
lactate, glutamine, and glutamate. The second approach provided in the Core is stable isotope tracing,
where(13C, 15N, 2H)-labeled substrates can be traced to metabolites such as TCA cycle intermediates and fatty
acids, which provides information on metabolic pathway flux that provides insight beyond metabolite
quantification alone. The third major analytical platform in the Core is a Seahorse XFp Extracellular Flux
Analyzer, purchased in 2015, which allows real-time measurement of cellular oxygen consumption and
extracellular acidification. Mitochondrial function and the relative contribution of glycolysis and oxidative
phosphorylation to ATP production can be measured in live by sequential addition of various mitochondrial
inhibitors or uncouplers. Over the last 5 years, the Cancer Metabolism Core has provided services to 24 Cancer
Center members, and supported at least 20 publications

Grant Number: 4P30CA030199-44
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Paul Boutros