1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy evidence that aberrant crypt foci are preneoplastic lesions in the colon

Histopathological and genetic studies support the hypothesis that aberrant crypt foci (ACF) represent one of the earliest events in colon carcinogenesis. The purpose of this study is to make use of 1H MRS in conjunction with multivariate methods of analysis to ascertain the validity of the above mentioned hypothesis.ACF, colonic mucosa and tumor samples taken from thirty-two carcinogen (azoxymethane)-treated Sprague Dawley rats, and of colon mucosa taken from ten healthy animals, were investigated ex vivo by 1H MRS and analyzed using multivariate methods of analysis.The 1H magnetic resonance peak intensities and areas of ACF lie between those from normal and carcinogen- treated mucosa samples and tumors. Multivariate analysis classification of the spectra suggests that the ACF exhibit biochemical characteristics intermediate between the control and AOM-mucosa samples and the tumor groups.The use of sophisticated methods of data classification has enabled us to support the hypothesis that ACF represent preneoplastic lesions of the colon.