Investigation of non-small cell lung cancer patient samples using advanced proteomic analysis methods

Recent technological advances in mass spectrometers and methods developed in parallel allow large-scale studies in which proteins in complex biological samples are examined in depth. Thanks to this impressive development in proteomic strategies, our understanding in cancer biology is also strengthened. Studies have generally focused on early diagnosis and personalized treatment for the lung cancer which has poor prognosis and low survival rates. Therefore, proteomic approaches based on mass spectrometry are seen as modern and promising technologies in detecting possible target proteins in tissue or body fluids for more effective and appropriate treatment. For this purpose, large-scale proteomic analyzes were carried out in clinical samples from large cell carcinoma (LCC) patients. Firstly, protein profile of tissue sample set was revealed and differentially expressed proteins were found out. Later, serum samples of the same patients were examined and proteins with common expression differences in tissue sample set were confirmed by PRM analysis. Mass spectrometry analysis resulted in identification of over 6000 and 500 proteins in the tissue and serum sample sets, respectively. Among these proteins, 503 proteins in tissue sample groups, and also 52 proteins in serum sample groups were found to be statistically significant. In addition, 7 proteins were detected to have similar expression changes in both serum and tissue samples, and the results were confirmed by repeated PRM analysis in serum samples. Lots of proteins were examined refinedly using MS-based proteomic approaches and comprehensive data were obtained in serum and tissue samples of the large cell carcinoma that was studied much less than the common lung cancer subtypes. Hereby, we are of the opinion that our study will be an important data source that will contribute to future studies for BHK.