NMR Analysis of Selective Glycolytic Metabolism in SK-N-SH Neuroblastoma Cells*

Cancer cells are characterized by altered and dysregulated metabolic cycles, often heavily favoring glycolysis over the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, even in the presence of oxygen. This shift in metabolism is commonly known as the “Warburg Effect.” One of the major products of this adjusted metabolism is lactate, which can serve as a key biomarker for measuring cancer cell activity and metabolic adaptations. Because lactate accumulation reflects a shift toward glycolytic metabolism, it can be used to track how cancer cells respond to various treatments or environmental effects. In this study, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, a non-destructive technique that identifies metabolites based on their magnetic properties, was employed to measure lactate production in SK-N-SH, a human neuroblastoma cell line, following exposure to [1,2-13C] glucose. The findings of this study will be discussed in detail, with a focus on how cancer cells selectively enhance glycolysis under aerobic conditions.