Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of blood plasma lipoproteins in malignant disease: methodological aspects and clinical relevance.

Abstract

NMR spectroscopy of blood plasma has been extensively investigated in the last decade, mainly motivated by a hope that the method would aid in the diagnosis of malignant disease. Although the 1H NMR indices have failed as a tumor marker suitable for cancer screening due to low specificity, the method has great potential in cancer research. Its use outside research laboratories, however, is still very limited. Several methodological problems require special attention. 1H NMR spectroscopy lipid line widths are composite signals that reflect a continuum of general responses to different stimuli. Few studies on the fatty acid distribution in blood plasma in malignancy have been done, using the saturated and unsaturated regions of the 13C NMR spectrum. NMR spectroscopy of blood plasma might be valuable in practical clinical use. We suggest that this method could estimate effects on blood lipid profile following endocrine therapies in cancer patients.