Application Of Surface Enhanced Laser Desorption/ionization Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) Technology In The Diagnosis Of Primary Liver Carcinomas

AIM:To explore tumor markers for the diagnosis of primary liver carcinomas(PLC)through detecting the serum protein spectrum differently expressed between PLC patients and healthy controls.To provide the valuable data for establishing a serum protein pattern model of hepatic cellular carcinoma.METHODS:We detected the serum protein spectrum in 30 PLC patients and 30 healthy controls using surface enhanced laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS)technique.The collected data were compared and analyzed by biomarker patterns software(BPS)3.0 in order to find the significant protein peaks.The serum Alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)levels in all 60 serum samples were also measured by ELISA.RESULTS:The protein peaks,which could discriminate healthy individuals from PLC patients, were detected.The expression of 8 protein molecules in patients with PLC was significantly higher than those in the normal controls,and the expression of 12 proteins were lower in PLC patients.Four protein molecules(3354.71,8825.80,4345.08,13715.01Da)had a significant difference between PLC patients and the normal controls(P＜10^-5),indicating that these protein molecules might be a potential marker for PLC.The specificity and sensitivity of SELDI-TOF-MS were 94%and 90%respectively.While sixteen PLC s were AFP positive and the sensitivity was 53%(16/30).CONCLUSION:With a high specificity and sensitivity,the detection of serum protein spectrum can be performed easily and quickly by SELDI-TOF-MS technique,which provides a serological way in identifying PLC and most likely to benefit from AFP strategies.It will sure play a valuable role in the clinical work.