Proteomics in prostate cancer.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: State-of-the-art proteomics technologies are currently being assessed for utility in the study of prostatic malignancy. This review aims to provide background information on the current proteomics techniques employed in prostate cancer research, recent reports showing the potential application of proteomics in urological practice, and the future direction of proteomics in prostate cancer research and management. RECENT FINDINGS: Proteomic profiling of serum as a diagnostic tool and a platform for biomarker discovery in prostate cancer continues to draw favorable attention as well as close scrutiny as technological enhancements and multi-center study results are reported. In-vitro studies on prostate cell lines provide positive proof-of-principle results. The application of proteomics to query prostate tissue specimens yields novel prostate cancer biomarkers requiring further validation. The integration of proteomics with immunology also yields promising findings that may translate into clinically relevant biological assays. SUMMARY: The study of proteomics is an emerging research field, and current studies continue to display potential future usage in prostate cancer management. Succeeding scientific investigations will probably yield new diagnostic and prognostic tools for prostate cancer, provide insights into its underlying biology, and contribute to the development of novel treatment strategies.

Duke Scholars

Author Judd Wendell Moul Urology