title: Emerging single-cell technologies for functional proteomics in oncology.
abstract: Cellular heterogeneity has challenged current cancer therapeutics and hindered the discovery and development of cancer drugs. The heterogeneity in functional proteome is of particular interest because many cancer drugs are developed to target signaling proteins. The complex nature of tumor systems calls for more advanced multiplexed single-cell tools to address the heterogeneity issue.
  
  
  
  Over the past five years, there are a few single-cell functional proteomics tools introduced with unprecedented multiplexity and performance that are transforming the oncology field. Those tools are generally categorized as cytometry-based tools and microfluidics-based tools, and we discuss the representatives in both categories. Expert commentary: The single-cell tools have provided an avenue to understand the multifaceted differences of cancer cells, the complex signaling networks, and the relationship of intercellular interaction and tumor architecture. We also provide an outlook of single-cell tools in five years and the challenges to address before a greater impact on oncology can be made.
authors.affiliation: a Multiplex Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry , University at Albany, State University of New York , Albany , NY , USA.|b Cancer Research Center , University at Albany, State University of New York , Rensselaer , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: a Multiplex Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry , University at Albany, State University of New York , Albany , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D020543:Proteome / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D040901:Proteomics; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D020543:Proteome
keywords: Single-cell analysis; cytometry; functional proteomics; immunoassay; microfluidics; signaling networks