Metabolic Profiling of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines: Evaluation of Harvesting Protocols for Profiling Using Nmr Spectroscopy

BACKGROUND: Metabolic profiling represents a novel technology for analyzing tumor cells. Epithelial ovarian carcinoma has a low survival rate due to the development of aggressive and chemotherapy-resistant cells. A tailored and reliable protocol is presented for profiling of chemoresistant cells using the cell line SKOV3 and a multiresistant subline SKOV3R. RESULTS: Harvesting protocols with cold methanol or MilliQ freeze/thaw cycles were compared. Increased reproducibility using MilliQ was evidenced. Importantly, both approaches resulted in similar profiles. Compared with parental SKOV3, the SKOV3R cells showed a significantly different profile. CONCLUSION: The MilliQ protocol is preferred owing to higher reproducibility and increased sample preparation options. The resulting metabolic profiles summarize metabolic alterations in chemoresistant cells consistent with a progressed and aggressive phenotype.