Mapping 1H MR metabolites to transcriptomics and mass spectrometry imaging in PDAC

Motivation: The poor prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) creates an urgent need to identify new targets. PDAC is a metabolically active cancer that is glutamine avid. Goal(s): We downregulated the glutamine transporter, SLC1A5, in the patient-derived human cancer cell line, Pa04C, and observed significant tumor growth delay. Approach: High-field, high-resolution 1H MRS was performed of extracts from wild type, empty vector, and SLC1A5 downregulated tumors that was mapped to transcriptomic analysis of the corresponding cells, and to mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) of human normal and PDAC tissue. Results: Common pathways were identified from the analysis that identify new targets for PDAC. Impact: This study contributes to our comprehension of how the glutamate transporter SLC1A5 impacts the transcriptomics of pancreatic cancer cells, influences tumor metabolism, and its connection to variations in human PDAC metabolism. These findings could provide new insights into PDAC cancer.