The mechanism of using NMR for cancer detection.

Abstract

Today, a most powerful technique to detect cancer development in patient is the use of the MRI (Magnetic Resonance imaging) technology. Thus, it is important to understand how NMR measurements can differentiate normal cells from pre-neoplastic cells and cancer cells. In this talk, we will first review the history of the development of the NMR technique for cancer detection. Then, we will discuss the physical mechanism that allows the NMR measurement to distinguish the normal cells, the pre-cancer cells and cancer cells. One key point is that, the contrast of MRI image was found to be based on difference in nuclear relaxation times (T1 and T2) rather than based on the concentration difference of cellular water. At present, there is still an active interest to understand the mechanisms behind relaxation time changes of water protons during cancer development. In this talk, I will review several possible physical mechanisms that could explain the relaxation time changes between normal cells and cancer cells.