Correlation between tCho peak at H-MRS and gene expression of choline kinases and transmembrane choline transporters: an experimental study on a rodent rhabdomyosarcoma model using a standard 3T clinical imager

Introduction: Neoplastic processes are known to exhibit increased total choline (tCho) peak at H-MRS [1] together with increased transcription of genes encoding for transmembrane choline transporters and choline kinases [2, 3]. Authors have highlighted that choline kinase activity was unregulated contrarily to downward phosphocholine cytidyl transferase which may constitute a block allowing upward accumulation of phosphocholine [4]. We investigated which from transmembrane choline transporters and choline kinases had the most prominent role in the elevation of the tCho peak at H-MRS using a rodent rabdomyosarcoma model. We voluntarily performed this investigation on a clinical 3T system to ensure the feasibility of such study on a routine system for further translational purposes.