Mass spectrometry assay for estrogenic compounds

Abstract

Methods are provided for detecting the amount of one or more HRT panel analytes (i.e., estrone (E1), estrone sulfate (E1s), 17α-estradiol (E2a), 17β-estradiol (E2b), estradiol sulfate (E2s), estriol (E3), equilin (EQ), 17α-dihydroequilin (EQa), 17β-dihydroequilin (EQb), Equilenin (EN), 17α-dihydroequilenin (ENa), 17β-dihydroequilenin (ENb), and Δ8,9-dehydroestrone (dE1)) in a sample by mass spectrometry. The methods generally involve ionizing one or more HRT panel analytes in a sample and quantifying the generated ions to determine the amount of one or more HRT panel analytes in the sample. In methods where amounts of multiple HRT panel analytes are detected, the amounts of multiple analytes are detected in the same sample injection.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Appl. No. 61 / 161,160, filed Mar. 18, 2009, and U.S. Appl. No. 61 / 140,575, filed Dec. 23, 2008, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to methods for measurement of certain estrogenic compounds, in particular by tandem mass spectrometry.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The following description of the background of the invention is provided simply as an aid in understanding the invention and is not admitted to describe or constitute prior art to the invention.[0004]Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a treatment to artificially boost the hormone levels for surgically menopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. The main hormones involved in HRT are estrogens, progestins and sometimes testosterone. They can be delivered to the body via patches, tablets, creams, gels, troches, IUDs, and injections (rarely) in ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0066]As used herein, the term “matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization” or “MALDI” refers to methods in which a non-volatile sample is exposed to laser irradiation, which desorbs and ionizes analytes in the sample by various ionization pathways, including photo-ionization, protonation, deprotonation, and cluster decay. For MALDI, the sample is mixed with an energy-absorbing matrix, which facilitates desorption of analyte molecules.

[0069]As used herein, the term “atmospheric pressure chemical ionization” or “APCI,” refers to mass spectrometry methods that are similar to ESI; however, APCI produces ions by ion-molecule reactions that occur within a plasma at atmospheric pressure. The plasma is maintained by an electric discharge between the spray capillary and a counter electrode. Then ions are typically extracted into the mass analyzer by use of a set of differentially pumped skimmer stages. A counterflow of dry and preheated N2 gas may be used to improve removal of solvent. The gas-phase ionization in APCI can be more effective than ESI for analyzing less-polar species.

[0070]The term “atmospheric pressure photoionization” or “APPI” as used herein refers to the form of mass spectrometry where the mechanism for the photoionization of molecule M is photon absorption and electron ejection to form the molecular ion M+. Because the photon energy typically is just above the ionization potential, the molecular ion is less susceptible to dissociation. In many cases it may be possible to analyze samples without the need for chromatography, thus saving significant time and expense. In the presence of water vapor or protic solvents, the molecular ion can extract H to form MH+. This tends to occur if M has a high proton affinity. This does not affect quantitation accuracy because the sum of M+ and MH+ is constant. Drug compounds in protic solvents are usually observed as MH+, whereas nonpolar compounds such as naphthalene or testosterone usually form M+. See, e.g., Robb et al., Anal. Chem. 2000, 72(15): 3653-3659.

Problems solved by technology

However, a link between estrogens and various increased health risks, such as developing breast cancer or various cardiovascular conditions, has been reported.

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