DIGE-Based Biomarker Discovery in Blood Cancers

Abstract

Cancer of blood or bone marrow-derived cells dysregulates normal hematopoiesis and accounts for over 6% of all cancer cases annually. Proteomic analyses of blood cancers have improved our understanding of disease mechanisms and identified numerous proteins of clinical relevance. For many years, gel-based proteomic studies have aided in the discovery of novel diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers, as well as therapeutic targets, in various diseases, including blood cancer. Fluorescence two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) facilitates comparative proteomic research to identify differential protein expression in a simple and reproducible manner. The versatility of 2D-DIGE as a quantitative proteomic technique has provided insight into various aspects of blood cancer pathology, including disease development, prognostic subtypes, and drug resistance. The ability to couple 2D-DIGE with additional downstream mass spectrometry-based techniques yields comprehensive workflows capable of identifying proteins of biological and clinical significance. The application of 2D-DIGE in blood cancer research has significantly contributed to the increasingly important initiative of precision medicine. This chapter will focus on the influential role of 2D-DIGE as a tool in blood cancer research.