Glutamine Imaging: A New Avenue for Glioma Management

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: S. Ekici, Emory University; Jonathon Nye, Emory University; Stewart Neill, Emory University; Jason Allen, Emory University; Hui-Kuo Shu, Emory University; Candace Fleischer, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-11-04
• Publisher: AMER SOC NEURORADIOLOGY
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2022 by American Journal of Neuroradiology
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A7333
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NEURORADIOLOGY
• Volume: 43
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 11
• End Page: 18
• Keywords: METABOLISM; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; INHIBITION; Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging; MODELS; Science & Technology; Clinical Neurology; Neuroimaging; BIOMARKERS; TRANSPORT; Neurosciences & Neurology
• Research Categories: Engineering, Biomedical; Health Sciences, Radiology; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

The glutamine pathway is emerging as an important marker of cancer prognosis and a target for new treatments. In gliomas, the most common type of brain tumors, metabolic reprogramming leads to abnormal consumption of glutamine as an energy source, and increased glutamine concentrations are associated with treatment resistance and proliferation. A key challenge in the development of glutamine-based biomarkers and therapies is the limited number of in vivo tools to noninvasively assess local glutamine metabolism and monitor its changes. In this review, we describe the importance of glutamine metabolism in gliomas and review the current landscape of translational and emerging imaging techniques to measure glutamine in the brain. These techniques include MRS, PET, SPECT, and preclinical methods such as fluorescence and mass spectrometry imaging. Finally, we discuss the roadblocks that must be overcome before incorporating glutamine into a personalized approach for glioma management.