Identification of Tumor-Related Proteins by Proteomic Analysis of Cerebrospinal Fluid from Patients with Primary Brain Tumors

• Published in: Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology Vol. 62; no. 8; pp. 855 - 862
• Main Authors: ZHENG, PING-PIN, LUIDER, THEO M, PIETERS, ROB, AVEZAAT, CEES J.J, VAN DEN BENT, MARTIN J, SILLEVIS SMITT, PETER A.E, KROS, JOHAN M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England American Association of Neuropathologists, Inc 01.08.2003; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Brain Neoplasms - cerebrospinal fluid; Calmodulin-Binding Proteins - cerebrospinal fluid; Child; Child, Preschool; Databases, Protein; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional - methods; Female; Glioma - classification; Glioma - metabolism; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Proteins - isolation & purification; Proteomics - methods; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc - cerebrospinal fluid; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization - instrumentation; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization - methods; Staining and Labeling
• ISSN: 0022-3069; 1554-6578
• DOI: 10.1093/jnen/62.8.855

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been rediscovered in the post-genomic era as a great source of potential protein biomarkers for various diseases. The source allows rapid screening, low sample consumption, and accurate protein identification by proteomic technology. In the present study, we identified 2 candidate tumor-related proteins, N-myc oncoprotein and low-molecular weight caldesmon (l-CaD), in CSF samples of patients with primary brain tumors by using 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D PAGE), followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) analysis. N-myc and l-CaD were related to tumor cell nuclei and blood vessels, respectively, in tissue sections of the tumor biopsies taken from the same patients from whom CSF was processed. N-myc oncoprotein and l-CaD have not been detected in CSF before. The practical value of these proteins as possible tumor markers, prognosticators, or their utility in monitoring response to chemotherapy is currently a subject of investigation. It is concluded that the combination of 2D PAGE and MALDI-TOF-MS is successful as an unbiased global screening tool for CSF.