Targeted tissue proteomic assays

Expression Pathology is developing targeted, quantitative mass spectrometry-based assays that can be used to measure protein expression in standard formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor samples. The assays include a wide range of drug target pathway proteins including EFGR, IGF-1R, cMET, cSRC, mTOR, MEK, and ERK, and their phosphorylation states.

Our assays can be multiplexed and have great potential in drug development, clinical trials and personalized medicine. Measuring protein expression in standard formalin-fixed tissue samples can provide diagnostic and prognostic information to guide treatment decisions.

Click on image for more details regarding the work flow.

Measure

Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) is an established method for quantitation of proteins using mass spectrometry. Liquid Tissue® preparations can be used together with MRM for absolute quantitation of specific protein biomarkers in FFPE tissue. This is the foundation for our current development of tests to determine the expression of key proteins in for example cell signaling pathways and druggable targets. Multi-plexed MRM assays can be used to measure many different proteins at the same time.

* Absolute quantitation * Multiplexed * Proteins and pathwas * Phosphoproteins

Recent collaborations involve measurement of Her2 in breast cancer by labeled peptides, lung cancer biomarkers by MRM and papillomavirus in HIV patients by iTRAQ. A case study using Her2 expression in invasive breast cancer is available.

Discover and Validate

Our technology can also be used to mine archival tissue collections for differentially expressed protein biomarkers in archival tissue collection.

* Companion diagnostics * Prognostic biomarkers * Drug targets

Modern, high-resolution mass spectrometry is extremely sensitive. Using only very small amounts of precious patient samples we do global protein expression screens which profile the expression of thousands of proteins from patients. Using our bioinformatics expertise we can identify proteins that are up or down regulated.

Technology platform

The patented Liquid Tissue® MS reagents extract proteins from FFPE tissue samples and prepares them for mass spec analysis. The process provides complete solubilization and captures the entire protein content in a mass spec friendly format and requires only 30,000 cells. An integral part of our research it is also available as a research product for use in your laboratory.

Laser microdissection is essential for high-quality data in proteomic and genomic work. DIRECTOR® laser microdissection use indirect photon biomaterial interactions. It is covered by two issued patents, and dramatically improves the speed, precision and automatability of tissue microdissection. The DIRECTOR slides are fully compatible with the three leading laser microdissection platforms on the market; the Leica LMD6000, the P.A.L.M. Microbeam from Zeiss, and the new generation mmi CellCut Plus from Molecular Machines & Industries.

Liquid Tissue technology is protected by U.S. Patent 7,473,532 and patents pending and foreign equivalents thereof.

DIRECTOR technology is protected by U.S. Patents 7,294,367 and 7,381,440 and foreign equivalents thereof.

Our Terms and Conditions apply. The Liquid Tissue® MS is sold under a limited license with commercial use restrictions. For further details please contact us.