Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high performance liquid chromatography of neoplastic human renal tissues.

Background: The biochemical composition of human neoplastic and normal renal tissues. Materials and Methods: Thirteen patients with nephrocarcinomas were examined: 24 samples, 13 from the nephrocarcinomas, 9 from the surrounding healthy parenchyma and 2 from the healthy cortex and medulla were extracted and analyzed by Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Results: MRS yielded information on renal osmolytes, whereas HPLC disclosed the amino acid pattern of tissue extracts. Significant biochemical differences were found between normal and pathological renal tissues: the osmolyte content decreases dramatically in nephrocarcinomas. Conclusion: We confirm that many osmolytes are present in the healthy kidney, with a different distribution between cortex and medulla, and can be considered markers of a physiological renal function. The marked decrease of these osmolytes is typical of cancer. A detailed knowledge of the biochemical composition of human renal tissues is required for the use of diagnostic methods, like in vivo MRS, the reliability of which is based on the detection of molecular markers. Useful information can also be obtained from the study of the amino acidic fraction.