“Softer” Mass Spec Techniques Gain Advantage in Biomarker Discovery
|
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 29 Mar 2015 |
|
Two mass spectrometry (MS) technologies, MALDI and DESI, are increasing in applications as their effectiveness is established, according to Kalorama Information (New York, NY, USA) in its report “Proteomics Markets for Research and IVD Applications (Mass Spectrometry, Chromatography, Microarrays, Electrophoresis, Immunoassays, Other Technologies).”
MS is the most powerful tool in proteomic biomarker discovery and validation. Through its traditional techniques MS has struggled to elucidate tissue molecular distribution related to disease state. In recent years, MS imaging, including MALDI and DESI imaging, has seen significant application in proteomic biomarker discovery with its distinct advantages in preservation of spatial proteomic data and potential to improve assay reproducibility.
In MALDI and DESI, nondestructive techniques are utilized with soft ionization sources to desorb and ionize surface molecules for MS analysis. According to Kalorama, one of the key strengths of MALDI and DESI is that they avoid traditional tissue sample preparation, a tedious front-end process that presents a significant bottleneck in proteomics where differential analysis is used to compare protein expression and abundance between samples. Proteolytic digestion and other sample preparation procedures remove significant analytical context value related to protein spatial distribution and concentration.
Kalorama believes that a number of studies have cemented the reputation of these MS technologies. Researchers have noted the novelty of MALDI imaging of tissue (introduced in 1997) to discover proteins otherwise difficult to separate by electrophoresis or hidden in shotgun proteomic processes that are biased towards higher-mass proteins. Recent studies have used MALDI imaging to discover several biomarkers associated with gastric cancer survival prognosis, forms of ovarian cancer, and to develop a novel grading system for papillary non-invasive bladder cancer.
Kalorama’s report contains breakouts of the market by type of technology used and application. It profiles companies and surveys partnerships and deals related to proteomics.
Related Links:
Kalorama Information
Proteomics Markets for Research and IVD Applications, report
MS is the most powerful tool in proteomic biomarker discovery and validation. Through its traditional techniques MS has struggled to elucidate tissue molecular distribution related to disease state. In recent years, MS imaging, including MALDI and DESI imaging, has seen significant application in proteomic biomarker discovery with its distinct advantages in preservation of spatial proteomic data and potential to improve assay reproducibility.
In MALDI and DESI, nondestructive techniques are utilized with soft ionization sources to desorb and ionize surface molecules for MS analysis. According to Kalorama, one of the key strengths of MALDI and DESI is that they avoid traditional tissue sample preparation, a tedious front-end process that presents a significant bottleneck in proteomics where differential analysis is used to compare protein expression and abundance between samples. Proteolytic digestion and other sample preparation procedures remove significant analytical context value related to protein spatial distribution and concentration.
Kalorama believes that a number of studies have cemented the reputation of these MS technologies. Researchers have noted the novelty of MALDI imaging of tissue (introduced in 1997) to discover proteins otherwise difficult to separate by electrophoresis or hidden in shotgun proteomic processes that are biased towards higher-mass proteins. Recent studies have used MALDI imaging to discover several biomarkers associated with gastric cancer survival prognosis, forms of ovarian cancer, and to develop a novel grading system for papillary non-invasive bladder cancer.
Kalorama’s report contains breakouts of the market by type of technology used and application. It profiles companies and surveys partnerships and deals related to proteomics.
Related Links:
Kalorama Information
Proteomics Markets for Research and IVD Applications, report
New
Gold Member
Neonatal Heel Incision Device
Tenderfoot
New
POC Immunoassay Analyzer
Procise DX
New
Immunofluorescence Analyzer
IFA System
Latest BioResearch News
- Single-Cell Assay Tracks Cytokine Signaling for Cancer Immunotherapy Research
- Study Links Midlife Vitamin D to Lower Tau in Alzheimer's
- International Consensus Standardizes Tumor Microbiota Detection and Reporting
- Common Metablolic Enzyme Could Predict Response to Cancer Immunotherapy
- Newly Identfied Genetic Variants in MND Support Prognosis and Family Testing
- Innate Immunity Variants Associated With Earlier Breast Cancer in BRCA1 Carriers
- Genetic Cause Identified for Severe Infant Epilepsy
- Study Reveals Diagnostic and Therapeutic Target in Rare Pancreatic Tumors
- Researchers Identify Survival Pathway Undermining Targeted Cancer Drugs
- Large-Scale Study Maps DNA Damage Signatures Across Multiple Cancers
- Study Identifies Distinct Immune Signatures to Early Depression and Psychosis
- Genetic Mutation Behind Aggressive Adult Leukemia Offers Treatment Clues
- Disease Gene Discovery Advances Diagnosis of Rare Movement Disorders
- Genetic Discovery Could Improve Diagnosis of Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
- Genetic Discovery May Improve Diagnosis of Rare Dementia Subtype
- Mass Spectrometry Technique Detects Protein and Sugar Changes in Neurodegeneration
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
Next Generation Automated Analyzers Increase Throughput for Clinical Chemistry and Electrolyte Testing
Clinical laboratories continue to face staffing shortages, limited space, and growing test volumes that pressure chemistry and electrolyte workflows. Maintaining rapid turnaround times increasingly depends... Read more
Blood Metabolite Test Detects Early Cognitive Decline
Timely identification of individuals at risk of dementia remains difficult because symptoms commonly appear only after significant neurodegeneration. Accessible screening tools that flag subtle cognitive... Read more
Molecular Diagnostics
view channel
Mesothelioma in Younger Adults Linked to Genetic Risk Factors
Mesothelioma is a rare malignancy of the pleura, historically linked to occupational asbestos exposure and most often diagnosed in older men. About 3,300 people are diagnosed each year in the United States,... Read more
Noninvasive Urine Test Predicts Recurrence After BCG in Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer is among the most common malignancies in the United States and frequently recurs even when diagnosed at the non‑muscle invasive stage (NMIBC). After transurethral resection, many patients... Read more
Hematology
view channel
Open Multi-Omics Platform Identifies Prognostic Subtypes in Blood Cancers
Blood cancers encompass diverse entities whose biology and clinical behavior are best understood through integrative analyses across large cohorts. However, multi‑omic datasets and outcomes information... Read more
AI-Powered Digital Workflow Standardizes Bone Marrow Aspirate Morphology
Bone marrow aspirate examination is central to diagnosing and monitoring blood cancers and other serious hematologic diseases, yet the process in many laboratories remains manual and highly dependent on... Read more
Immunology
view channel
Combined Screening Approach Identifies Early Leprosy Cases
Leprosy remains a significant public health concern, with more than 200,000 new cases reported globally each year and early disease often escaping routine laboratory detection. In its initial phase, bacterial... Read more
Antibody Blood Test Identifies Active TB and Distinguishes Latent Infection
Active tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of death and illness worldwide, yet distinguishing contagious disease from latent infection continues to challenge clinicians. Standard screening tools... Read more
FDA Approval Expands Use of PD-L1 Companion Diagnostic in Esophageal and GEJ Carcinomas
Esophageal and gastroesophageal junction carcinomas (GEJ) have a poor prognosis, with approximately 16,250 deaths in the United States in 2025 and a five-year relative survival of 21.9%.... Read more
Study Identifies Inflammatory Pathway Driving Immunotherapy Resistance in Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer remains a prevalent malignancy with variable responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Clinicians often observe elevated C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 in affected patients, yet the... Read moreMicrobiology
view channel
New Bacterial Target Identified for Early Detection of Noma
Noma is a rapidly progressing orofacial infection that begins as gingivitis and can destroy oral and facial tissues, primarily affecting young children living in extreme poverty. Without treatment, it... Read more
Genomic Analysis Links Emerging Streptococcal Strains to Specific Infections
Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis (SDSE) infections are increasing worldwide and include variants that may lead to severe disease. Researchers now report that whole-genome sequencing of... Read more
Pathology
view channel
AI Tool Predicts Chemotherapy Response in Small Cell Lung Cancer
Small cell lung cancer often presents at an extensive stage and progresses rapidly, leaving little time to tailor first-line therapy. Clinicians currently lack biomarkers to guide which patients will benefit... Read more_image.png "Image: Through neoadjuvant therapy combining chemotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) for 46 LAGC patients and single-cell transcriptome sequencing, researchers found that tumor cells in the treatment-sensitive group specifically upregulated MHC-II (tumor-specific major histocompatibility complex class II, tsMHC-II) molecules (photo courtesy of Science China Press)")
Tumor-Specific Biomarker Predicts Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Response in Gastric Cancer
Gastric cancer is the fifth most common malignancy and the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, with China bearing nearly half of the global burden. Only a subset of patients benefit from... Read more
Technology
view channel
New AI Tool Enables Rapid Treatment Selection in Pediatric Leukemia
Children with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia face an aggressive disease that remains difficult to treat. Although remission rates have improved, many survivors experience long-term effects from intensive... Read more
Breakthrough Mass Spectrometry Design Could Enable Ultra-Low Abundance Detection
Mass spectrometry is central to identifying and quantifying molecules in complex biological samples, but conventional instruments typically analyze ions sequentially, which can limit detection of rare species.... Read more
Industry
view channel
GRAIL Partners with Epic to Integrate Multi-Cancer Test into EHR
GRAIL’s Galleri multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test is being integrated into Epic’s electronic health record (EHR) platform through Epic Aura. The collaboration is designed to let clinicians at interested... Read more
Global Partnership Aims to Streamline NGS Tumor Profiling in Oncology Trials
CellCarta and Pillar Biosciences announced a global, multi-year strategic partnership on April 2, 2026 to broaden access to operationally streamlined next-generation sequencing (NGS) tumor profiling for... Read more
