Expression Pathology Used to Identifying Biomarkers of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Survival

Researchers at Tokyo Medical University used tissue microproteomics technologies to identified protein biomarkers associated with lung cancer metastasis, which were then further studied for correlation to clinical outcomes. The researchers used laser microdissection slides to analyze formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples by mass spectrometry. A novel combination of technologies has helped in proteomic discovery and the analysis of previously unusable archived tissue, first in a semi-quantitative manner and then in a more targeted manner to focus on specific individual proteins.   This method has now demonstrated its potential utility as an indicator of the stage of disease and predictor of patient survival.  “FFPE tissue archives represent an extraordinary resource for mining protein biomarkers associated with differential clinical outcomes,” said David Krizman, PhD, EPI’s Chief Scientific Officer. “However, detailed proteomic analysis by mass spectrometry of specific cellular features of these samples has, until recently, not been feasible.”  This new study undoubtedly demonstrates how the new technique has opened archived tissue to discovery and validation of protein biomarkers of differential pathologies and clinical outcomes.