What nutrients are actually available inside tumors?
Absolute metabolomics of >118 metabolites shows murine tumor interstitial fluid differs from plasma, and tumor type, location, and diet reshape local nutrient pools.
Source
Quantification of microenvironmental metabolites in murine cancers reveals determinants of tumor nutrient availability
What they did
Used quantitative mass spectrometry with standards/isotope dilution to measure absolute concentrations of >118 metabolites in plasma and tumor interstitial fluid (TIF) from autochthonous and transplant murine lung and pancreatic adenocarcinoma models.
What they found
Nutrients available in TIF differ from circulating plasma. Comparing models showed tumor type, anatomical location, and animal diet affect local nutrient availability; diet changes appear in TIF, while a Keap1 mutation in LUAD had a smaller microenvironment effect.
The limits
What it doesn't show
Mouse TIF maps may not match human tumors; centrifugation isolation and model genetics limit direct clinical translation of exact concentrations.
Key terms
- Tumor interstitial fluid (TIF)
- Extracellular fluid that perfuses tumors and supplies nutrients.
- Quantitative metabolomics
- Absolute concentration measurement of many metabolites by LC/MS.
- PDAC / LUAD
- Pancreatic and lung adenocarcinoma murine models studied here.
- Autochthonous model
- Tumor arising in situ (vs transplanted tumor).
- Microenvironment
- Local nutrient and cellular context around cancer cells.
Flashcards
Research intelligence for this paper
See its role on concept claims, tensions it is part of, placement history, and related discoveries.
Quiz yourself
Primary fluid contrasted with plasma was:
Common questions
How many metabolites?
Absolute concentrations of >118 metabolites.
What fluids compared?
Plasma versus tumor interstitial fluid.
What shaped local nutrients?
Tumor type, anatomical location, and diet.
Human subjects?
No — murine cancer models.
More on Metabolism