Cancer Diagnostics Using Immunoassays

After using C A19-9 as the only accepted diagnostic marker for pancreatic cancer for two decades [92], a bewildering number of potential biomarkers are currently under evaluation [93]. Apeak (3334.7 Da) found by SELDI-TOF-MS in 5/15 pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines was identified by Qq-TOF-MS/MS as the COOH-terminal fragment of DMBTl, a putative tumor suppression protein intracellularly generated by Umited prior proteolysis. Analyses of other cell lines suggested that the marker may be unique to pancreatic adenocarcinoma [94]. In another study, a differentially expressed peak (—16,570 Da) was detected in 10/15 samples from pancreatic adenocarcinoma in contrast to only 1/7 with other pancreatic diseases. The peak was identified as hepatocarcinoma-intestine-pancreas/pancreatitis-associated protein I (HIP-PAP I) by SELDI immunoassay [95]. 

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