While cancer’s visible symptoms capture our attention, it’s the invisible metabolic processes within cells that truly drive the disease. Cancer cells reprogram their metabolism to fuel rapid growth, resist treatments, and evade the immune system. Understanding these metabolic changes isn’t just academic curiosity; it’s the key to developing more effective, targeted therapies that can outsmart cancer at its most fundamental level
The challenge: Decoding cancer’s metabolic complexity
Cancer metabolism is far more intricate than simply “cells growing fast.” Tumour cells undergo profound metabolic reprogramming, switching energy production pathways, altering nutrient consumption, and even changing how they communicate with surrounding tissues. This metabolic flexibility makes cancer particularly challenging to treat.
Traditional research methods often provide only snapshots of cellular activity, missing the dynamic changes that occur over time. What researchers need are technologies that can monitor these metabolic processes as they happen, providing real-time insights into how cancer cells behave and respond to potential treatments.
🖥️ Explore cutting-edge strategies in our Cell Analysis Webinar Series to discover how advanced technologies are revolutionising cancer metabolism research.
The solution: Real-time metabolic monitoring
Modern cancer research demands technologies that can capture the full picture of cellular metabolism in real-time. Two revolutionary platforms are transforming how scientists study cancer metabolism, offering unprecedented insights into cellular behaviour and treatment responses.
Comprehensive metabolic profiling with Seahorse technology
Oxygen Consumption Rate(OCR) and Extracellular Acidification Rate(ECAR) are key indicators of mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis and these measurements provide a systems-level view of cellular metabolic function in cultured cells. The Agilent Seahorse XFe96 Analyzer represents a breakthrough in metabolic analysis, allowing researchers to measure both OCR and ECAR simultaneously in live cells.
Key capabilities for cancer research:
- Real-Time Metabolic Measurements: Monitor how cancer cells switch between different energy production pathways, revealing metabolic vulnerabilities that could be targeted therapeutically.
- Drug Response Analysis: Agilent Seahorse XF technology provides critical functional measurements in live cells to identify potential druggable gene and protein targets, and to validate their role in cancer cell proliferation, adaptation, and survival.
- High-Throughput Screening: The 96-well format enables researchers to test multiple conditions simultaneously, accelerating the pace of discovery in metabolic drug development.
📊 Learn more about Live Cell Metabolism Solutions for Cancer Research to discover comprehensive approaches to studying cancer metabolism.
Dynamic cell behaviour analysis with xCELLigence technology
The Agilent xCELLigence RTCA eSight is an advanced real-time cell analysis system that enables comprehensive insight into a cell’s health, behaviour, function, and biological processes using live, simultaneous, and real-time biosensor-based and image-based measurements.
This innovative platform combines impedance-based monitoring with live-cell imaging, providing a complete picture of cellular responses to metabolic interventions.
Key advantages for cancer metabolism studies:
- Label-Free Monitoring: The xCELLigence RTCA instrument uses noninvasive electrical impedance monitoring to quantify cell proliferation, morphology change, and attachment quality in a label-free, real-time manner, allowing for continuous observation without disturbing cellular processes.
- Multi-Modal Analysis: Simultaneous impedance measurements and fluorescence imaging provide complementary data on cell viability, proliferation, and metabolic activity.
- Treatment Response Tracking: Monitor how cancer cells respond to metabolic inhibitors or combination therapies over extended periods, revealing both immediate and delayed effects.
- Morphological Changes: Observe real-time changes in cell morphology that accompany metabolic reprogramming, providing visual confirmation of cellular responses.
🎥 Watch our 3D Immune Cell Killing Demonstration to see how xCELLigence eSight technology monitors immune cell interactions with tumour spheroids in real-time.
The Impact: Transforming cancer treatment
By combining these advanced technologies, researchers can now:
- Identify Metabolic Vulnerabilities: Discover specific metabolic pathways that cancer cells depend on for survival, revealing new therapeutic targets.
- Optimise Combination Therapies: Understand how metabolic inhibitors work in combination with traditional treatments, potentially improving efficacy while reducing side effects.
- Personalise Treatment Approaches: Characterise the metabolic profiles of different cancer types and subtypes, enabling more precise treatment selection.
- Accelerate Drug Development: Rapidly screen potential metabolic inhibitors and validate their mechanisms of action in relevant cellular models.
📚 Download our 3D Spheroid-Based Tumour Invasion technical overview to explore how these technologies are being applied to study cancer metastasis and invasion.
Your gateway to advanced cancer metabolism research
The future of cancer treatment lies in understanding and targeting the metabolic engines that drive tumour growth and resistance. Chemetrix provides researchers with access to these cutting-edge technologies, along with the expertise needed to unlock their full potential.
Our comprehensive support includes:
- Expert consultation on experimental design and methodology
- Technical training and ongoing support
- Method development and optimisation
- Data analysis and interpretation guidance
Ready to advance your cancer metabolism research?
The battle against cancer requires the most sophisticated tools science can provide. With Seahorse and xCELLigence technologies, you have the power to see cancer metabolism in real-time, revealing new possibilities for treatment and hope for patients.
