MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells grown in monolayer and as three-dimensional tumor spheroids present a different metabolic profile: a 1H NMR study.

High resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy was used to determine if the same cell line (MG-63human osteosarcoma cells) grown in monolayer or as small (about 50^80 Wm in diameter), three-dimensional tumor spheroids with no hypoxic center has di¡erent metabolic characteristics. Consequently, the 1H NMR spectra were obtained from both types of cultures and then compared. The results indicate that the type of cellular spatial array determines speci¢c changes in MG-63cells. In particular, small but signi¢cant di¡erences in lactate and alanine indicating a perturbation in energy metabolism were observed in the two cell models. In addition, although variations in CH2 and CH3 groups were also seen, it is not possible at this time to establish if lipid metabolism is truly di¡erent in cells and spheroids.