| One in four deaths in the United States is due to cancer. The goal of any cancer research is to eliminate the tumor without affecting the host, Cancerous cells grow faster than typical cells and rapid growth requires additional energy. Energy is generated in cells by the TCA cycle. In the process of generating energy, cells partially recycle organic intermediates to continue the cycle. Researchers at UT Southwestern, in conjunction with the University of Texas at Dallas, are using stable isotopes as precursors (food) in the TCA. Cells uptake the 'food' and then NMR spectroscopy is performed. The graphical and tabular output of our TCA computer program simulates a true-to-life NMR spectrum. With simulator output and comparative analysis of their in vivo NMR, scientists can easily determine how rapidly, and more importantly, which TCA precursors cancer cells are using for energy. Once that is known, the goal is then directed toward finding metabolic inhibitors that starve the tumor but not the host. Here, a MATLAB version of tcaSIM software is produced to predict the NMR spectra, as well as mass spectra information. |
