Distinction between the Preneoplastic and Neoplastic State of Murine Mammary Glands by spin-echo NMR

摘要

We have, using spin-echo nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, measuredthe relaxation times and diffusion coefficient of water protons in primarymammary adenocarcinomas of mice. In our biological model, three morphologicalstages were defined: (a) mammary gland tissue from pregnant mice, (b)preneoplastic nodules, and (c) neoplastic tissue. It was found that neoplastictissues could be distinguished from normal and prenoeplastic tissue. Spin-spinand spin-lattice relaxation times and the diffusion coefficient of waterprotons are increased in the neoplastic tissue relative to mammary gland tissuefrom pregnant mice and preneoplastic nodule tissue. These results suggestedthat one can use a pulsed NMR method to detect and even predict breast cancer.