The star chart to Ta bladder cancer: an unsophisticated analysis of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis proteome maps.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the use of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) for analysing the proteome of clinically relevant tissue samples such as biopsies from transurethral resections of the bladder (TURB), by generating a Ta proteome map, possibly identifying technical or biological artefacts, and searching for biological subgroups associated with clinical data.


METHODS
Biopsies from 23 patients were homogenized and the protein content was separated by 2DE. The gels were silver stained and scanned, and the resulting pictures were analysed for similarities in the spot pattern.


RESULTS
A majority of 18 patients displayed a consistent protein expression profile and a Ta proteome map was constructed by averaging the grey value of each pixel in all 18 pictures. Spot detection was performed on a project proteome map (based on all 23 samples) and resulted in 1583 detected spots. 416 of these which were positively detected in all 18 "Ta-map" samples. Three patients displayed a pattern with some marked alterations to the majority profile, possibly artefacts of yet unknown heredity. One patient revealed a protein pattern deemed to constitute a separate group, later revealed as a blinded control from a T4 tumour. Only one sample was sparse in protein spots, probably containing mostly blood owing to inadequate sampling. No biological subgroups associated with clinical data were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
A Ta proteome map was successfully created from TURB samples. Deviating protein expression profiles were identified, indicating a future potential to reveal biologically relevant subgroups in this or other stages of urothelial cell carcinomas.
Røtterud
Ranveig
R
Oslo Urological University Clinic, Oslo University Hospital, Aker, Oslo, Norway. ranveig.rotterud@medisin.uio.no
Malmström
Per-Uno
PU
Wahlqvist
Rolf
R
Taskén
Kristin A
KA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D040901:Proteomics; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology