title: Clinical applications of MALDI imaging technologies in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
abstract: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) enables localization of analytes of interest along with histology. More specifically, MALDI-IMS identifies the distributions of proteins, peptides, small molecules, lipids, and drugs and their metabolites in tissues, with high spatial resolution. This unique capacity to directly analyze tissue samples without the need for lengthy sample preparation reduces technical variability and renders MALDI-IMS ideal for the identification of potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and disease gradation. MALDI-IMS has evolved rapidly over the last decade and has been successfully used in both medical and basic research by scientists worldwide. In this review, we explore the clinical applications of MALDI-IMS, focusing on the major cancer types and neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, we re-emphasize the diagnostic potential of IMS and the challenges that must be confronted when conducting MALDI-IMS in clinical settings. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: MALDI Imaging, edited by Dr. Corinna Henkel and Prof. Peter Hoffmann.
authors.affiliation: Acibadem University, Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ucal
authors.affiliation: Acibadem University, Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zeynep Aslıhan
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Durer
authors.affiliation: Acibadem University, Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Atak
authors.affiliation: Acibadem University, Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kadioglu
authors.affiliation: Acibadem University, Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Betul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.affiliation: Acibadem University, Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdurrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.affiliation: Acibadem University, Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet Tarık
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Baykal
authors.affiliation: Acibadem University, Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: aysel.ozpinar@acibadem.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Aysel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozpinar
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Cancer; Clinical application; MALDI-IMS; Neurodegenerative diseases