Metabolic Signatures Associated with a NAD Synthesis Inhibitor–Induced Tumor Apoptosis Identified by 1H-Decoupled-31P Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Abstract

Purpose: Attempts to selectively initiate tumor cell death through inducible apoptotic pathways are increasingly being exploited as a potential anticancer strategy. Inhibition of NAD⁺ synthesis by a novel agent FK866 has been recently reported to induce apoptosis in human leukemia, hepatocarcinoma cells in vitro, and various types of tumor xenografts in vivo. In the present study, we used ¹H-decoupled phosphorus (³¹P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to examine the metabolic changes associated with FK866 induced tumor cell death in a mouse mammary carcinoma.