Proteomic Profiling for Tumor Diagnosis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic methods for distinguishing between benign and malignant tumors, particularly in the case of hepatocellular adenomas, are inadequate as they rely on single biomarkers which are not 100% specific, and existing proteomic analyses on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues are limited by genetic material degradation and the inability to provide comprehensive patient management.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method for determining a reference proteomic profile by comparing label-free quantification of protein expression in tissue samples to a characterized database, allowing for the identification of protein expression deregulations and association with functional biological pathways, enabling more accurate diagnosis and management of pathological conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If single biomarker analysis is used for tumor diagnosis, then the diagnostic process is simple and quick, but the specificity and accuracy are insufficient (not 100% specific)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple biomarker analyses into a unified proteomic profiling approach. Instead of analyzing single biomarkers separately, the invention integrates the analysis of multiple proteins simultaneously using mass spectrometry, thereby maintaining diagnostic speed while significantly improving accuracy and specificity through multi-parameter assessment
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite diagnostic signature by combining information from multiple protein biomarkers. This composite proteomic profile serves as a more robust diagnostic tool than individual biomarkers, providing both speed and high accuracy through the synergistic combination of multiple molecular indicators
2Adaptability or versatility
If proteomic analysis is performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues, then clinical samples can be reused and diagnostic workflow is simplified, but genetic material degradation limits the effectiveness of molecular analyses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces DNA/RNA-based molecular analyses with protein-based proteomic analysis using mass spectrometry. This substitution allows the use of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues where genetic material has degraded, as proteins are more stable under these conditions. The mass spectrometry technique directly analyzes protein content without requiring intact genetic material, thereby maintaining reliability while achieving broad sample compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the analytical parameter from genetic material (DNA/RNA) to protein material. This parameter change enables the analysis of archived FFPE samples that would be unsuitable for genomic or transcriptomic studies, while still providing reliable molecular-level diagnostic information through proteomic profiling
3Measurement precision
If multiple biomarkers are analyzed to improve diagnostic accuracy, then the diagnostic information becomes more comprehensive, but the complexity of the diagnostic process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal proteomic profiling platform using mass spectrometry that can simultaneously analyze multiple protein biomarkers in a single experiment. This multi-functional approach allows comprehensive diagnostic information to be obtained without proportionally increasing procedural complexity, as the same analytical system handles all biomarker detections through standardized proteomic workflows
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses mass spectrometry to create a comprehensive proteomic profile that copies and quantifies the expression levels of numerous proteins simultaneously. This digital fingerprint of protein expression patterns provides accurate diagnostic information while streamlining the process, as the spectral data can be computationally analyzed to identify diagnostic signatures without manual interpretation of each individual biomarker
4Loss of information
If comprehensive proteomic profiling is performed to obtain functional disease information, then the biological information obtained is maximized, but the tissue sample is exhausted and cannot be used for other analyses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts protein information from tissue samples using mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis. By focusing specifically on protein extraction and analysis rather than consuming the entire tissue sample for exhaustive molecular characterization, the invention obtains comprehensive functional disease information while preserving sufficient tissue material for additional diagnostic procedures or archival purposes
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for determining a reference proteomic profile of a pathological condition in a subject, comprising steps of:label free quantification of the relative protein abundances of a tissue sample from at least one subject for which a diagnosis of a pathological condition of said tissue has been previously established, said sample containing non-pathological and pathological tissue,determining the proteomic profile of said sample by calculating the ratio of the relative abundances, for each protein, of said protein in the pathological tissue with respect to said protein in the non-pathological tissue,determining a reference proteomic profile for the previously diagnosed pathological condition, by means of a statistical test established between at least two groups of subjects.