Peptides as "better biomarkers"? Value, challenges, and potential solutions to facilitate implementation

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Proteomics
• Clinical Chemistry

Background:

• Peptides play crucial roles in physiological and pathophysiological processes.
• Endogenous peptides in body fluids (urine, blood, CSF) are accessible for analysis.
• Peptides are emerging as valuable clinical biomarkers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent literature on mass spectrometry-based investigation of native peptides in body fluids.
• To focus on the application of peptide biomarkers for enhanced clinical management.
• To critically evaluate the clinical utility, implementation status, challenges, and solutions for peptide biomarkers.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies published within the last 5 years.
• Focus on mass spectrometry-based platforms for endogenous peptide analysis.
• Emphasis on studies applying peptides as biomarkers for clinical utility.

Main Results:

• Significant increase in studies using mass spectrometry for endogenous peptide biomarker assessment.
• Few successful implementations in patient management and clinical trials indicate field evolution.
• Most studies lack sufficient sample size and validation, creating a discovery-implementation gap.

Conclusions:

• Mass spectrometry is increasingly utilized for peptide biomarker discovery.
• The field of peptide biomarkers is advancing, with some successful clinical applications.
• Overcoming challenges related to sample size and validation is crucial for clinical implementation.