Two-dimensional electrophoresis in prostate cancer research and diagnostics

Abstract

Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) is the most commonly-used technique for large-scale identification of proteins in clinical samples. Here, we review the use of this method to improve prostate cancer diagnostics, especially on the analysis of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Two-dimensional electrophoresis is a powerful method, which makes possible the detection and analysis of thousands of proteins and their post-translational modifications. However, it is a sophisticated technique, which does not resolve all kind of proteins. Some groups were able to improve prostate cancer diagnostics using the 2-DE pattern of free PSA isoforms on prostate cancer and non-prostate cancer sera. To this end, it would be very interesting to further investigate and develop these new diagnostic approaches.