Hardt M, Lam DK, Dolan JC, Schmidt BL. Surveying proteolytic processes in human cancer microenvironments by microdialysis and activity-based mass spectrometry.
Proteomics Clin Appl 2012;
5:636-43. [PMID:
22262628 DOI:
10.1002/prca.201100015]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
We present a strategy to survey proteolytic processes that occur in human cancer microenvironments.
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
In situ microdialysis during oral cancer surgery was combined with mass spectrometry-based proteomics to analyze interstitial fluid surrounding tumors and anatomically matched normal sites. Protease activity-based (18)O-profiling was utilized to reveal peptides that were processed by co-collected proteases ex vivo.
RESULTS
We demonstrated for the first time the use of microdialysis in humans to collect interstitial fluid from cancer microenvironments. Proteomic profiling identified proteases and inhibitors in the microdialysis samples. A subset of peptides displayed characteristic (18)O-isotope patterns that indicated processing by endogenous proteases.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
The presented approach provides unprecedented views of in vivo targets of proteases without disrupting the cancer or surrounding tissue. The methodology can be broadly adapted to other physiological conditions in which proteolytic mediators are involved (e.g. arthritic joints, inflamed muscle, other types of cancer) and where a comparison of normal and pathological tissue is sought.
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