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Understanding Cancer Metabolism Through Global Metabolomics

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Genetics Meets Metabolomics

Abstract

After a hiatus of nearly 30 years, the interest in and research towards understanding cancer cell growth and function from a metabolic standpoint has returned. Much of the research for the past 30 years has focused entirely on molecular biology and, while some stunning discoveries have been made with regard to oncogenes, other aspects of cancer cells have largely gone unnoticed “as reported by McKnight (Science 330:1338–1339, 2010).” This renewed interest in cancer cell metabolism coincides with the timely development of global metabolomics as a key technology that provides an unrivaled tool for understanding metabolism “as reported by Evans (Anal Chem 81:6656–6667, 2009).” Through this unique ability to monitor the concentration changes in these biochemicals, we are better able to identify and understand metabolic differences in cancer cells relative to normal cells. The focus of this chapter will be to better educate the reader about the importance of understanding cancer metabolism and how global metabolomics is an ideal technology for gaining these new insights.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research and Development, Metabolon, Inc, 617 Davis Drive Suite 400, Durham, NC, 27713, USA

    Michael V. Milburn Ph.D., Kay A. Lawton Ph.D. & Lining Guo Ph.D.

  2. Oncology Research and Development, Metabolon, Inc, 617 Davis Drive Suite 400, Durham, NC, 27713, USA

    Jonathan E. McDunn Ph.D.

  3. Metabolon, Inc, 617 Davis Drive Suite 400, Durham, NC, 27713, USA

    John A. Ryals Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Michael V. Milburn Ph.D.
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  2. Kay A. Lawton Ph.D.
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  3. Jonathan E. McDunn Ph.D.
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  4. John A. Ryals Ph.D.
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  5. Lining Guo Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael V. Milburn Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Qatar Foundation-Education City, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Education City – Qatar Foundation, Doha, 24144, Qatar

    Karsten Suhre

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Milburn, M.V., Lawton, K.A., McDunn, J.E., Ryals, J.A., Guo, L. (2012). Understanding Cancer Metabolism Through Global Metabolomics. In: Suhre, K. (eds) Genetics Meets Metabolomics. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1689-0_12

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