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