Urinary protein profiling by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry: ADAM28 is overexpressed in bladder transitional cell carcinoma

Bladder cancer is the most common urological cancer with higher incidence rate in the endemic areas of Blackfoot disease (BFD) in southern Taiwan. The aim of this study was to utilize the proteomic approach to establish urinary protein patterns of bladder cancer. The experimental results showed that most patients with bladder cancer had proteinuria or albuminuria. The urine arsenic concentrations of bladder cancer patients in BFD areas were significantly higher than those patients from non-BFD areas. In the proteomic analysis, the urinary proteome was identified by nano-high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (nano-HPLC/ESI-MS/MS) followed by peptide fragmentation pattern analysis. We categorized 2782 unique proteins of which 89 proteins were identified with at least three unique matching peptide sequences. Among these 89 proteins, thirteen of them were not found in the control group and may represent proteins specific for bladder cancer. In this study, three proteins, SPINK5, ADAM28 and PTP1, were also confirmed by Western blotting and showed significant differential expression compared with the control group. ADAM28 may be used as a possible biomarker of bladder cancer.

Characterization of ADAM28 as a biomarker of bladder transitional cell carcinomas by urinary proteome analysis

Human urine contains a large number of proteins and peptides (the urinary proteome). Global analysis of the human urinary proteome is important for understanding urinary tract diseases. Bladder cancer is the most common urological cancer with higher incidence rates in endemic areas of Blackfoot disease (BFD) in southern Taiwan. The aim of this study was to use the proteomic approach to establish urinary protein biomarkers of bladder cancer. ADAM28, identified by proteomic approaches and confirmed by Western blotting, showed significant differences compared with normal individuals, so it may be a biomarker of bladder cancer.

Galectin-3 in urine of cancer patients: stage and tissue specificity

PURPOSE

Galectin-3 has been implicated in advanced stage of cancer disease. In the current study we examined the possibility of urinary galectin-3 levels to stage cancer disease and to follow up therapy.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Urine was collected from all types of cancer patients at different stages including patients undergoing radio/chemotherapy. Galectin-3 level was determined by anti-galectin-3 based ELISA and agglutination assays. Immunoblotting and purification on lactosyl affinity column further confirmed the presence of galectin-3.

RESULTS

Cancer samples exhibited stage dependent expression of galectin-3 approx. ranging from 1.0 to 3.3, 4.4 to 5.4, 5.4 to 24.7, 13.1 to 31.9, 13.9 to 32.9 ng/mg C (creatinine) for stage I-V, respectively, at P approximately <0.05 level. Galectin-3 levels were decreased by approx. threefolds after 5th day of therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Sample collection being simple and non-invasive, urinary galectin-3 may be used as a potential diagnostic tool for monitoring or follow up of the stage of cancer disease.

Proteomic profiling of human urinary proteome using nano-high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Urine, a blood filtrate produced by the urinary system, is an ideal bio-sample and a rich source of biomarkers for diagnostic information. Many components in urine are useful in clinical diagnosis, and urinary proteins can be strong indication for many diseases such as proteinuria, kidney, bladder and urinary tract diseases. To enhance our understanding of urinary proteome, the urine proteins were prepared by different sample cleanup preparation methods and identified by nano-high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry followed by peptide fragmentation pattern. The experimental results demonstrated that a total of 2283 peptides, corresponding to 311 unique proteins, were identified from human urine samples, in which 104 proteins with higher confidence levels. The present study was designed to establish optimal techniques to create a proteomic map of normal urinary proteins. Also, a discussion of novel approaches to urine protein cleanup and constituents is given.