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Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenases 1 and 2 (IDH1 and IDH2) in the majority of people with grade 2 and 3 gliomas is associated with elevated levels of 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) within the tumor. As harboring IDH1 or IDH2 mutations confers a considerable survival benefit in these individuals, there has been considerable interest in studying this metabolite as a potential biomarker. Here, Changho Choi et al. report the successful noninvasive detection of 2HG in 30 subjects with gliomas using a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy approach.
Kejia Cai et al. describe a method to non-invasively detect glutamate (Glu) concentrations in the brain with MRI at high resolution. The approach is based on the pH-dependent chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) effect between the amino group of Glu and bulk water and offers advantages over proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Feasibility of GluCEST was demonstrated in rat brain after middle cerebral artery occlusion stroke and in a rat brain tumor model, as well as in healthy human brain at 7 Tesla.
Cell-surface glycans are known to alter as Barrett's esophagus progresses to adenocarcinoma, leading to specific changes in lectin binding patterns. Bird-Lieberman and her colleagues have exploited this knowledge to develop a new endoscopic approach that uses fluorescent-labeled lectins to visualize pre-cancerous, high-grade dysplastic lesions in Barrett's esophagus that cannot be detected by conventional endoscopy. The method uses commonly available endoscopic equipment, provides a wide field of view and is shown here in ex vivo esophageal tissue.
