The approach to cancer research has become successful with the help of the different "omics" technologies that provide various information needed to understand the several types of cancer, to determine their causes, to predict and prevent their development, and to develop effective diagnosis and treatment for such diseases. Metagenomics and metatranscriptomics are two of the most common technologies used in cancer studies. However, aside from these two, there are other omics that provide additional information to further understand these diseases. Metaproteomics, the characterization of all proteins found in a sample, is also one of the omics technologies that aid in cancer research. With the help of metaproteomics studies, the probability of discovering cancer-related biomarkers which can be used to improve cancer risk assessment, aid in early detection and diagnosis, and select proper treatments, becomes high.
Research in the past have proven that cancer develops as a result of changes in genetic, molecular, and metabolic activities of the cell, including protein expression. Metaproteomics works well with metatranscriptomics in understanding protein expression. Metatranscriptomics provides the information regarding all proteins that are expressed in the cell while with the aid of metaproteomics, the understanding of protein modification (post-transcriptional modification), and the interaction of proteins with each other becomes clearer. Post-transcriptional modification and change in the amino acid sequence show that a certain protein can take on different forms called proteoforms. In cancer studies, changes in proteoforms may be used to determine tumor aggressiveness, progression, and to predict tumorigenesis. Ultimately, metaproteomics studies play a huge part in understanding regulatory and functional networks in the cell which can be used to determine novel drug targets and biomarkers for a certain type of cancer. Metaproteomics has also been used to monitor drug effectiveness in chemotherapy by tracking the response of tumors to the drugs used. In a recent study by Long, et al., they used quantitative metaproteomics to compare expressed proteins in healthy volunteers and colorectal cancer patients. The result of their study showed that protein expressions vary between healthy individuals and colorectal cancer patients, such information can be used in pathogenesis research and clinical diagnosis.
Proteomics technology is divided into two categories namely, the global quantitative proteomics, which is more commonly used in large-scale protein screening, and targeted quantitative proteomics which is a more specific type of protein analysis that is used to detect useful biomarkers. These two strategies work hand-in-hand to identify possible biomarker candidates which can be used in further clinical studies. Label-free proteomics is a broadly employed technology for global quantitative screening in cancer research. It has been successfully used to map proteins in different types of cancer such as breast, lung, and prostate cancer, and in different clinical samples such as serum, urine, tumors, and cell extracts.
Metaproteomics has shown its significance in cancer research to map protein activity and response to conditions leading to the development of tumors. Creative Proteomics offers metaproteomics services for your cancer research. Starting from separation, identification, quantification, and characterization using global and targeted quantitative screening, we assure you that we provide the best strategies to optimize the collection of information needed for your studies. We use state-of-the-art technologies, such as chromatography and mass spectrometry, to provide you with reliable results in the shortest time possible. We are one of the most trusted companies in metaproteomics services in cancer research. For additional information and other services that we provide, please feel free to contact us.
References:
1. Long, S., Yang, Y., Shen, C., et al. Metaproteomics characterizes human gut microbiome function in colorectal cancer. Biofilms and Microbiomes. 2020, 6:14.
2. Maes, E., Mertens, I., Valkenborg, D., et al. Proteomics in cancer research: Are we ready for clinical practice? Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, 2015, (07).
3. Panis, C., Correa, S., Binato, R., et al. The Role of Proteomics in Cancer Research. Oncogenomics, 2019.
* For Research Use Only. Not for use in the treatment or diagnosis of disease.
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