"Proteomics in Cancer Research" covers both the basic principles of proteomics along with detailed presentations of new and emerging technology that represent promising breakthroughs in cancer prevention and treatment. The topics covered include: basic concepts, including setting up a proteomics laboratory, mass spectrometry, protein separations, protein array technologies, and informatics tools; application of emerging technologies to proteomic analysis of cancer cells and tissues, including discussion of critical issues such as characteristics of cancer cell proteomes and protein protein interactions; and, application of proteomics approaches in clinical cancer research and a forecast of future research and applications. In most cases, applications of methods in basic and translational cancer research that are discussed in the text represent the first uses of these proteomics approaches to study any disease.
Critical issues that readers in cancer research need to understand are covered in detail, including: advantages and limitations of different technologies; new approaches to the molecular classification of tumors; and, discovery of new biomarkers and imaging targets and development of new proteomic platforms for profiling and screening. The unique proteomic features that characterize cancers offer new opportunities for disease prevention and treatment. Despite intense interest, however, proteomics is just beginning to become a part of the cancer research mainstream, as relatively few cancer researchers have training in proteomics methods and approaches. This book, therefore, is both a timely and an essential guide that will help readers understand key concepts of proteomics and use its methods to search for ways to both cure and prevent cancer.