Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 3, 2026
A Streamlined Approach for Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics Using Selected Tissue Regions
Published on: April 18, 2025
A clinically feasible multiplex proteomic immunoassay as a novel functional diagnostic for pancreatic ductal
Kian-Huat Lim1, Emma Langley2, Feng Gao3
1Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Abstract:
To date, targeted therapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains largely unsuccessful in the clinic. Current genomics-based technologies are unable to reflect the quantitative, dynamic signaling changes in the tumor, and require larger tumor samples that are difficult to obtain in PDAC patients. Therefore, a highly sensitive functional tool that can reliably and comprehensively inform intra-tumoral signaling events is direly needed to guide treatment decision. We tested the utility of a highly sensitive proteomics-based functional diagnostic platform, Collaborative Enzyme Enhanced Reactive-immunoassay (CEERTM), on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) samples obtained from 102 patients with radiographically-evident pancreatic tumors. Two FNA passes were collected from each patient, hybridized to customized chips coated with an array of capture antibodies, and detected using two enzyme-conjugated antibodies which emit quantifiable signals. We demonstrate that this technique is highly sensitive in detecting total and phosphorylated forms of multiple signaling molecules in FNA specimens, with reasonable correlation of marker intensities between two different FNA passes. Notably, signals of several markers were significantly higher in PDAC compared to non-cancerous samples. In PDAC samples, we found high total c-Met signal to be associated with poor survival, and confirmed this finding using an independent PDAC tissue microarray.
Insights
A novel proteomics platform, Collaborative Enzyme Enhanced Reactive-immunoassay (CEER™), shows high sensitivity for detecting signaling molecules in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) fine-needle aspiration samples, aiding treatment decisions.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Proteomics
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- Targeted therapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has limited clinical success.
- Current genomic methods fail to capture dynamic tumor signaling and require large samples, which are challenging for PDAC patients.
- A sensitive diagnostic tool is needed to guide PDAC treatment by assessing intra-tumoral signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of a proteomics-based diagnostic platform, CEER™, for analyzing signaling events in PDAC.
- To assess the feasibility of using fine-needle aspiration (FNA) samples for proteomic analysis in PDAC.
- To identify potential proteomic biomarkers for PDAC diagnosis and prognosis.
Main Methods:
- A highly sensitive proteomics platform, Collaborative Enzyme Enhanced Reactive-immunoassay (CEER™), was employed.
- Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) samples were collected from 102 patients with pancreatic tumors.
- Customized antibody arrays were used to detect total and phosphorylated signaling molecules in FNA specimens.
Main Results:
- The CEER™ platform demonstrated high sensitivity in detecting multiple signaling molecules and their phosphorylated forms in FNA samples.
- Marker intensities showed reasonable correlation between two FNA passes from the same patient.
- Several markers were significantly elevated in PDAC compared to non-cancerous samples.
- High total c-Met signal in PDAC samples correlated with poor patient survival, validated by tissue microarray analysis.
Conclusions:
- The CEER™ proteomics platform is a sensitive tool for analyzing signaling pathways in PDAC using FNA samples.
- This approach can provide valuable functional information to guide clinical treatment decisions for PDAC.
- Elevated c-Met signaling may serve as a prognostic biomarker for PDAC.
More Related Videos
05:44Isolation of Proximal Fluids to Investigate the Tumor Microenvironment of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Published on: November 5, 2020
08:30Immunophenotyping of Orthotopic Homograft Syngeneic of Murine Primary KPC Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma by Flow Cytometry
Published on: October 9, 2018