Low-Mass Ion Detection for Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing ovarian cancer are often ineffective at early detection, provide inaccurate results, and cause discomfort to patients, with existing diagnostic tools failing to reliably identify the disease until it has progressed significantly.
Innovation Solution
The use of lysophosphatidylcholine (16:0) and L-homocysteic acid as low-mass ions, detected through MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and analyzed using MarkerView™ software with PCA-DA, to differentiate between ovarian cancer and non-ovarian cancer patients, with a diagnostic kit and method involving antibodies and ELISA/LC-MS/MS for accurate measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional diagnostic methods (ultrasound, CT, MRI, CA125) are used, then diagnosis can be performed, but detection accuracy is low and cancer is only identified after significant development
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and analyzes low-mass ions (m/z ≤ 800) from biological samples using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, focusing specifically on ions such as lysophosphatidylcholine (16:0) and homocysteic acid that show significant concentration differences between ovarian cancer patients and healthy individuals. This extraction of specific low-mass ion signatures enables early and accurate detection that conventional methods miss
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the measurement parameter from conventional imaging and protein markers to mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of low-mass ions. By analyzing the intensity and concentration of specific low-mass ions (e.g., m/z 496 for LPC 16:0, m/z 175 for homocysteic acid), the method achieves superior diagnostic accuracy with sensitivity of 88.0% and specificity of 73.68%
2Measurement precision
If low-mass ion analysis is performed using MALDI-TOF, then early and accurate diagnosis is achieved, but the low-mass range (≤800 m/z) is traditionally avoided due to matrix peak interference
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts specific low-mass ion signals (m/z ≤ 800) from the complex MALDI-TOF spectrum by focusing on ions with significant intensity differences between cancer and healthy samples. By identifying and analyzing specific ions like LPC 16:0 (m/z 496) and homocysteic acid (m/z 175), the method overcomes matrix interference and achieves accurate diagnosis
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality analysis by examining specific regions of the mass spectrum (low-mass range m/z ≤ 800) with particular attention to ions showing discriminatory power. Rather than analyzing the entire spectrum uniformly, the method focuses on localized ion signatures that provide diagnostic information, such as the intensity ratio of specific low-mass ions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach achieves a diagnostic sensitivity of 88.0% and specificity of 73.68%, enabling early and accurate detection of ovarian cancer with improved patient comfort and reduced inaccuracies compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
the spectra of ions in blood can be extracted using a MALDI-TOF spectrometer
Implementation Method 2
MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are methods of treating a subject for of ovarian cancer, the method including using lysophosphatidylcholine (16:0) and homocysteic acid, which are low-mass ions present in biological samples, to diagnose whether treatment should be provided. The method enables ovarian cancer to be diagnosed in a cost-effective, rapid and accurate manner.