GCI Frontiers in Cancer Research Lecture Series

Deciphering the cancer-immune cell metabolic habitat with human 13C tracing infusions

Infusion studies with 13C-glucose in human cancer patients have revealed unique use of glucose-carbons in tumor cells. How other host cells, particularly immune cell subsets, metabolize glucose within the TME is not known. We setup a 13C-glucose infusion study in ovarian cancer patients to uncover the metabolic habitat in various cell subsets. Five distinct cell populations including tumor, myeloid, T cells, and stroma cells were profiled for isotopologue enrichment from 13C-glucose. We found evidence of differential flux of glucose to lactate, isotopologue enrichment in glycolysis, TCA-cycle intermediates, and amino acids across all cell lineages. In particular, we identified citrate as a potential T cell suppressing metabolite in the ovarian TME. Thus, 13C-glucose infusion studies can provide unique insight into metabolic pathways in human cancers.

Where: The Meakins Amphitheatre (McIntyre Room 521)