Early diagnosis of cancer with a simple blood test

Proteins with sugar linkages are important biomarkers of cancer. Scientists are developing novel technology for rapid and high-throughput (HTP) analysis of clinical blood samples leading to early detection and improved prognosis.

Protein glycosylation, the enzymatic linkage of sugars with amino acids of proteins, is a post-processing step in protein production that plays important roles in physiological and disease processes, including cancer. In order to develop technologies that can be used for rapid HTP and accurate analysis of glycosylation from a simple blood test, scientists initiated the EU-funded project 'Glycomics by high-throughput integrated technologies' (Glycohit). With new biomarkers and enhanced lab technologies, Glycohit expects to reduce diagnosis time to minutes rather than days.

One aim of the project is to improve existing techniques. To that end, the consortium developed a sensitive, robust ultra-performance liquid chromatography and hydrophilic interaction chromatography (UPLC-HILIC) method for analysis of a specific sugar–protein linkage in clinical samples. The UPLC-HILIC method and data analysis techniques were validated using samples from breast cancer patients and new potential glycan markers were identified.

Asparagine (N)-linked sugars (N-glycans) are associated with the pathogenesis of cancer. Scientists developed a HTP method for liquid chromatography coupled to atmospheric pressure ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for identification of protein glycosylation sites together with an automated analysis method. Novel methods were also developed to enhance glycobiomarker detection sensitivity.

Lectin microarrays are a relatively new platform that uses lectins (proteins that bind to specific sugars) immobilised on a substrate to detect the presence of glycans in a sample. Before Glycohit, plant lectins were used primarily; but now, for the first time, mammalian glycans have been used by the Glycohit consortium for greater specificity and target affinity.

More details can be found at the following link: http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=OFFR_TM_EN&ACTION=D&RCN=10967