MR-Spectroscopy and Survival in Mice with High Grade Glioma Undergoing Unrestricted Ketogenic Diet

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy as a promising modality for assessing ketogenic diet impact on the level of cerebral metabolites in the treatment of certain neurological disorders

“…MRS revealed differences in metabolic demand between tumour tissue and contralateral normal brain manifesting as a decreased concentration of GABA, NAA and NAG at days 9 and 23 in tumour tissue, compared to normal brain. Furthermore, what was found in MRS was a simultaneous decrease of Gln and Cr + PCr, whereas a huge increase in bHB was observed in tumour tissue in comparison to normal brain tissue at day 23 [20]. In contrast, there were no significant metabolic shifts in mice fed with standard diet, including no bHB peak in brain tumour nor in contralateral normal brain.…”

“…The next study confirming that MRS provides an opportunity to control putative metabolic shifts in tumour and healthy brain tissue in high grade gliomas in vivo was conducted by Ciusiani et al A syngenic mouse model was used in order to monitor the effects of KD on the metabolic responses of tumour with the use of 7T MRS. Glioma cells were injected into the caudate nucleus of mice, fed with a KD or standard nourishment [20]. Follow-up at day 18 after initiating the diet indicated significantly higher plasmatic levels of ketone bodies in mice on KD, compared to mice fed with standard diet.…”

“…In contrast, there were no significant metabolic shifts in mice fed with standard diet, including no bHB peak in brain tumour nor in contralateral normal brain. [20]. As was highlighted in a study by Ciusani, the accumulation of bHB in the tumour tissue in mice on KD may be concerned with its increased uptake/release by tumour cells, or their difficulties to use it for mitochondrial metabolism.…”

Beyond glucose: alternative sources of energy in glioblastoma

“…Using the orthotopic GL261 mouse glioma model, Ciusani et. al had found that mice fed with a KD showed greater survival compared to controls 64 . This may be due to the fact that KDs attenuate GBM stemness and proliferation through enhancing ROS production 66 .…”

“…In particular, the ketogenic diet (KD) has been theorized to show benefit due to the resultant depletion of bodily glucose. Evidence on the efficacy of these diets in GBM is mixed 64 - 66 . Using the orthotopic GL261 mouse glioma model, Ciusani et.…”