Affiliations: [a] Protein Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark | [b] Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark | [c] Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark | [d] Department of Statistics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark | [e] Center for Child Language, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark | [f] Clinical Epidemiology, Institute of Medical Biometry and Medical Informatics, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany | [g] Department of Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark | [h] Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
Correspondence:
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Corresponding authors: Anne K. Callesen or Ole N. Jensen, Protein Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark. Tel.: +45 6550 2342; Fax: +45 6550 2467; E-mail: anne.callesen@ouh.regionsyddanmark.dk; jenseno@bmb.sdu.dk.
Abstract: In the present study, the use of a robust and sensitive mass spectrometry based protein profiling analysis was tested as diagnostic tools for women with an ovarian tumor. The potential additional diagnostic value of serum protein profiles independent of the information provided by CA125 were also investigated. Protein profiles of 113 serum samples from women with an ovarian tumor (54 malign and 59 benign) were generated using MALDI-TOF MS. A total of 98 peaks with a significant difference (p< 0.01) in intensity between women with benign tumors/cysts and malignant ovarian tumors were identified. After average linkage clustering, a profile of 46 statistical significant mass peaks was identified to distinguish malignant tumors and benign tumors/cysts. In the subgroup of women with normal CA125 values (⩽ 35 U/mL) (62 patients) 36 of the 504 mass peaks showed significant (p< 0.05) differences in intensity between benign and malignant disease. After average linkage clustering, 25 statistical significant mass values were identified in this clinical difficult and important subgroup presenting with normal CA125 values. The current study demonstrates the potential of mass spectrometry based serum protein profiling as a diagnostic tool in discrimination between benign ovarian tumors/cysts and malignant ovarian tumors. Additionally, the method provided diagnostic information independent of CA125.
Keywords: Protein profiling, proteomics, ovarian cancer, MALDI TOF MS, serum
