title: MALDI profiles of proteins and lipids for the rapid characterisation of upper GI-tract cancers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify a reliable MALDI 'cancer fingerprint' to aid in the rapid detection and characterisation of malignant upper GI-tract disease from endoscopic biopsies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 183 tissue biopsies were collected from 126 patients with or without oesophago-gastric malignancy and proteins and lipids separated by methanol/chloroform extraction. Peak intensities in the lipid and protein MALDI spectra from five types of samples (normal oesophageal mucosa from controls, normal oesophageal mucosa from patients with oesophageal adenocarcinoma, nondysplastic Barrett's oesophagus, oesophageal adenocarcinoma, normal gastric mucosa and gastric adenocarcinoma) were compared using non-parametric statistical tests and ROC analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Normal oesophageal and gastric tissue generated distinct MALDI spectra characterised by higher levels of calgranulins in oesophageal tissue. MALDI spectra of polypeptides and lipids discriminated between oesophageal adenocarcinoma and Barrett's and normal oesophagus, and between gastric cancer and normal stomach. Many down-regulations were unique to each cancer type whilst some up-regulations, most notably increased HNPs 1-3, were common.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MALDI spectra of small tissue biopsies generated with this straightforward method can be used to rapidly detect numerous cancer-associated biochemical changes. These can be used to identify upper GI-tract cancers regardless of tumour location.
authors: School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
authors: Rishi
authors: R
authors: Singhal
authors: School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
authors: John B
authors: JB
authors: Carrigan
authors: School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
authors: Wenbin
authors: W
authors: Wei
authors: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TH, UK.
authors: Phillipe
authors: P
authors: Taniere
authors: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TH, UK.
authors: Rahul K
authors: RK
authors: Hejmadi
authors: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TH, UK.
authors: Colm
authors: C
authors: Forde
authors: School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Ludwig
authors: School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
authors: Josephine
authors: J
authors: Bunch
authors: School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
authors: Rian L
authors: RL
authors: Griffiths
authors: School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
authors: Philip J
authors: PJ
authors: Johnson
authors: School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
authors: Olga
authors: O
authors: Tucker
authors: School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
authors: Derek
authors: D
authors: Alderson
authors: School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
authors: Ulrich L
authors: UL
authors: Günther
authors: School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. Electronic address: d.g.ward@bham.ac.uk.
authors: Douglas G
authors: DG
authors: Ward
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D002725:Chloroform / Q000737:chemistry; D004724:Endoscopy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D004947:Esophagus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D012372:ROC Curve; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D008055:Lipids; D011506:Proteins; D002725:Chloroform; D000432:Methanol