Abstract
IntroductionIt is widely believed that discovery of specific, sensitive, and reliable tumor biomarkers can improve the treatment of cancer. Currently, there are no obvious targets that can be used in treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).MethodsTo better understand TNBC and find potential biomarkers for targeted treatment, we combined a novel hydrophobic fractionation protocol with mass spectrometry LTQ-orbitrap to explore and compare the hydrophobic sub-proteome of TNBC with another subtype of breast cancer, hormone-receptor-positive-Her2-negative breast cancer (non-TNBC).ResultsHydrophobic sub-proteome of breast cancer is rich in membrane proteins. Hundreds of proteins with various defined key cellular functions were identified from TNBC and non-TNBC tumors. In this study, protein profiles of TNBC and non-TNBC were systematically examined, compared, and validated. We have found that nine keratins are down-regulated and several heat shock proteins are up-regulated in TNBC tissues. Our study may provide insights of molecules that are responsible for the aggressiveness of TNBC.ConclusionThe initial results obtained using a combination of hydrophobic fractionation and nano-LC mass spectrometry analysis of these proteins appear promising in the discovery of potential cancer biomarkers and bio-signatures. When sufficiently refined, this approach may prove useful in improving breast cancer treatment.
Highlights
It is widely believed that discovery of specific, sensitive, and reliable tumor biomarkers can improve the treatment of cancer
We have found that nine keratins are downregulated and several heat shock proteins are up-regulated in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) tissues
The initial results obtained using a combination of hydrophobic fractionation and nano-LC mass spectrometry analysis of these proteins appear promising in the discovery of potential cancer biomarkers and bio-signatures
Summary
It is widely believed that discovery of specific, sensitive, and reliable tumor biomarkers can improve the treatment of cancer. There are no obvious targets that can be used in treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Different types of breast cancer require special treatment considerations. Chemical ligands such as hormones, when bound to receptors, lead to a chain of changes in the cell. Various receptors can be found on the cell surface, in the cytoplasm, and in the nucleus, which determine the biology and clinical behaviors of different types of breast cancer. Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2/neu) are the three biomarkers used clinically to guide treatment. Chemotherapy remains the only available systemic treatment, as there have been no effective target therapies developed for TNBC
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