Toward an integrated pipeline for protein biomarker development

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Proteomics
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Protein biomarker development integrates basic, translational, and clinical research, presenting significant challenges.
• A unified pipeline is essential for rational discovery and to overcome past disappointments in the field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of the protein biomarker development pipeline.
• To critically assess individual phases including candidate identification, verification, and validation.
• To highlight the role of mass spectrometry and complementary -omics approaches.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on protein biomarker development.
• Focus on mass spectrometry for protein identification and quantification.
• Discussion of complementary -omics strategies for biomarker candidate selection.

Main Results:

• Detailed examination of proteomic samples and protein-based clinical laboratory tests.
• Identification of limitations within the current biomarker development process.
• Critical assessment of each phase of the biomarker development pipeline.

Conclusions:

• Effective protein biomarker discovery necessitates integrating multidisciplinary efforts.
• Mass spectrometry and other -omics technologies are pivotal for advancing biomarker development.
• Addressing limitations is crucial for successful clinical translation of protein biomarkers.