Quantification of Biomarker Proteins Using Reverse-Phase Protein Arrays

It is expected that antibody-based proteomics will soon occupy a pivotal position in the discovery and validation of biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The reverse-phase protein array (RPPA) is an antibody-based proteomic method that can quantify the expression of multiple posttranslationally modified proteins (such as those that have been phosphorylated) across a large number of protein samples. RPPA is highly sensitive and requires only very small protein samples. This feature, in combination with large antibody libraries, makes RPPA ideal for clinical proteomics, as well as the fact that it is an expandable multiplex assay. In Volume 14, Issue 1 of Proteomics Clinical Applications, Suzuki and colleagues report for the first time a study comparing RPPA and immunohistochemistry for quantification of seven biomarker proteins used for subtyping of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Such combination of multiple biomarkers is likely to increase diagnostic accuracy and can be used for precise classification of this heterogeneous disease.