Proteomics Approaches for Identification of Tumor Relevant Protein Targets in Pulmonary Squamous Cell Carcinoma by 2D-DIGE-MS

Potential markers for progression of pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were identified by examining samples of lung SCC and adjacent normal tissues using a combination of fluorescence two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), and electrospray ionization quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (ESI-Q-TOF). The PANTHER System was used for gel image based quantification and statistical analysis. An analysis of proteomic data revealed that 323 protein spots showed significantly different levels of expression (P ≤ 0.05) in lung SCC tissue compared to expression in normal lung tissue. A further analysis of these protein spots by MALDI-TOF-MS identified 81 different proteins. A systems biology approach was used to map these proteins to major pathways involved in numerous cellular processes, including localization, transport, cellular component organization, apoptosis, and reproduction. Additionally, the expression of several proteins in lung SCC and normal tissues was examined using immunohistochemistry and western blot. The functions of individual proteins are being further investigated and validated, and the results might provide new insights into the mechanism of lung SCC progression, potentially leading to the design of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.