title: MALDI mass spectrometry in prostate cancer biomarker discovery.
abstract: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) is a highly versatile and sensitive analytical technique, which is known for its soft ionisation of biomolecules such as peptides and proteins. Generally, MALDI MS analysis requires little sample preparation, and in some cases like MS profiling it can be automated through the use of robotic liquid-handling systems. For more than a decade now, MALDI MS has been extensively utilised in the search for biomarkers that could aid clinicians in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment decision making. This review examines the various MALDI-based MS techniques like MS imaging, MS profiling and proteomics in-depth analysis where MALDI MS follows fractionation and separation methods such as gel electrophoresis, and how these have contributed to prostate cancer biomarker research. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Biomarkers: A Proteomic Challenge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, Reading, UK; Urology Research Department, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, UK.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Flatley
authors.affiliation: Urology Research Department, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, Reading, UK. Electronic address: r.k.cramer@reading.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cramer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins
keywords: Biomarkers; MALDI MS; MS imaging; MS profiling; Prostate cancer