MALDI-TOF based Proteomics Analysis of Breast Cancer in Clinical Pathology: A Valuable Tool for Biomarker Identification

Abstract

This study analyse the performance of tissue-based proteomics for early diagnosis of breast cancer for reducing its risk by identifying the causal factors. Breast cancer was induced by 7, 12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) in female albino mice followed by blood and tissue sample collection for biochemical and histological analysis. Total protein was isolated and quantified and peptides were detected by SDS-PAGE. For proteomics analysis and generation of peptide peaks, Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight-Mass Spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF-MS) was used and identification of unknown molecular weight was done by Mascot Server. DMBA induced tumor weighing 8.96± 0.90 g with a volume of 3.24± 0.65 cm3 was observed compared to no growth of controlled mice. Biochemical parameters like lipid peroxide (malonaldehyde), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1b, IL-6 and TNF-a), enzymatic antioxidants (SOD and CAT) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (GSH, GPx and vitamin C and E) were found significantly increased. Further, MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy generated unique peaks with molecular weight 2061.7961, 2064.968 and 2067.0154 with their respective peptide sequences. Computational analysis with mascot server identified unique signature metabolites of breast cancer. Therefore, this study safely submit that proteomic technologies can be employed to identify breast cancer protein patterns offering better diagnostic possibilities in the form of effective markers for early disease diagnosis.