title: Profiling solid tumor heterogeneity by LCM and biological MS of fresh-frozen tissue sections.
abstract: The heterogeneous nature of solid tumors represents a common problem in mass spectrometry (MS)-based analysis of fresh-frozen tissue specimens. Here, we describe a method that relies on synergy between laser capture microdissection (LCM) and MS for enhanced molecular profiling of solid tumors. This method involves dissection of homogeneous histologic cell types from thin fresh-frozen tissue sections via LCM, coupled with liquid chromatography (LC)-MS analysis. Such an approach enables an in-depth molecular profiling of captured cells. This is a bottom-up proteomic approach, where proteins are identified through peptide sequencing and matching against a specific proteomic database. Sample losses are minimized, since lysis, solubilization, and digestion are carried out directly on LCM caps in buffered methanol using a single tube, thus reducing sample loss between these steps. The rationale for the LCM-MS coupling is that once the optimal method parameters are established for a solid tumor of interest, homogeneous histologic tumor/tissue cells (i.e., tumor proper, stroma, etc.) can be effectively studied for potential biomarkers, drug targets, pathway analysis, as well as enhanced understanding of the pathological process under study.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Johann
authors.forename: Sumana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.forename: DaRue A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Veenstra
authors.forename: Josip
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blonder
mesh_terms: D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D056148:Chromatography, Reverse-Phase / Q000379:methods; D015925:Cryopreservation; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D042282:Microdissection / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry; D020543:Proteome / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis / Q000379:methods; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D014357:Trypsin / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D020543:Proteome; D014357:Trypsin