title: Detecting glycan cancer biomarkers in serum samples using MALDI FT-ICR mass spectrometry data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The development of better tests to detect cancer in its earliest stages is one of the most sought-after goals in medicine. Especially important are minimally invasive tests that require only blood or urine samples. By profiling oligosaccharides cleaved from glycosylated proteins shed by tumor cells into the blood stream, we hope to determine glycan profiles that will help identify cancer patients using a simple blood test. The data in this article were generated using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (MALDI FT-ICR MS). We have developed novel methods for analyzing this type of mass spectrometry data and applied it to eight datasets from three different types of cancer (breast, ovarian and prostate).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The techniques we have developed appear to be effective in the analysis of MALDI FT-ICR MS data. We found significant differences between control and cancer groups in all eight datasets, including two structurally related compounds that were found to be significantly different between control and cancer groups in all three types of cancer studied.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Group in Biostatistics with a Designated Emphasis in Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. barkda@wald.ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Donald A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Barkauskas
authors.forename: Hyun Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kronewitter
authors.forename: Maria Lorna
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: de Leoz
authors.forename: Helen K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.forename: Ralph W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: de Vere White
authors.forename: Gary S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Leiserowitz
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Carlito B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Lebrilla
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Rocke
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D017357:Cyclotrons; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000097:blood*; D012984:Software; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011134:Polysaccharides