title: MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for quantitative, specific, and sensitive analysis of DNA and RNA.
abstract: Cell-free fetal DNA and RNA released into the maternal circulation offer new opportunities to study fetal and pregnancy-associated abnormalities. Similarly, tumor cells can release cell-free DNA and RNA into the peripheral circulation, and these cell-free DNA and RNA can be used for cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis. However, these DNA and RNA often exist at very low concentrations (for fetal DNA, approximately 20 genome-equivalents (G.E.)/mL of plasma in the first trimester). The analysis is further complicated by the predominant amount of blood cell-derived DNA and RNA. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry can provide quantitative, specific, and sensitive analysis of DNA and RNA, and thus may be a useful technology for the field.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. cmding@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Chunming
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Yuk Ming Dennis
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lo
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA