University of Pennsylvania

Catherine DeBrosse

Ravinder Reddy

Hari Hariharan

Ravi Prakash Reddy Nanga

Puneet Bagga

CEST imaging technique and MR scanning are used as an MRI method for detecting levels of lactate in vivo by exploiting the exchange of &#x2014;OH protons on lactate with bulk water. In accordance with this method, one first obtains a lactate CEST MRI map of a slice of the body of a patient. A contrast agent such as pyruvate, glucose or glutamine is administered and a post-administration CEST MRI map is obtained. The difference in the spatial maps indicates the level of expression of lactate in the tissue of interest.

Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) imaging of lactate (LATEST)

CEST imaging technique and MR scanning are used as an MRI method for measuring glutaminase mediated tumors. The method takes advantage of the fact that glutamine does not exhibit a significant Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) effect while glutamate does. In accordance with this method, one first obtains a glutamate CEST MRI map of the area of a tumor. L-glutamine (nontoxic up to several millimolar level) or glutaminase blocker is then injected and a post injection Glutamate CEST map is obtained. The difference in the spatial maps indicates the level of expression of glutaminase in the tumor.

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Norristown, PA, United States of America

Catherine DeBrosse