February 23, 2023

METATRACER: A toolbox for clinical 13C metabolic flux analysis and proof of concept in leukemia

7th Call, Tech Trans

Short Summary

METATRACER aims at establishing 13C metabolic flux analysis for routine analysis of metabolic activity in tumor cells.

Goals

We aim at simplifying 13C metabolic flux analysis for clinical practice. We will build kits that combine optimally designed media, in which clinicians can add the cells to be investigated. Cells will be processed by automated mass spectrometry and data analysis method to rapidly infer flux data from labeled samples. A special variant of mitochondrial analysis (MITOTRACER) will be developed.

Significance

METATRACER will allow routine quantitative flux measurements on individual clinical samples. This is actionable information of direct relevance for decision-making in oncology, but also in other areas like for example immunology or inborn errors of metabolism.

Background

A major obstacle for all clinical disciplines aiming at metabolism is the overwhelming difficulty to measure metabolic activity (fluxes) of cells/tissues in depth. The unique approach to directly measure intracellular fluxes is using tracing by stable isotopes, mass spectrometry, and mathematical modeling. Traditionally, this technology has been too complex to penetrate clinical practice.