Application of Proteomics in Cancer Study

Cancer is one of the most malignant diseases in the world, accounting for 7.6 million deaths (around 13% of all deaths) in 2008 based on WHO reports. Early detection of cancer is vital due to its final control and prevention. Despite advances in diagnostic strategies, they have not the required sensitivity and specificity for prognosis. During the last decays, one of the most challenges for cancer research is to determine biological basis of this malignancy as a characteristic agents for an early-stage cancer. Understanding these agents requires molecular level examination of the disease followed by analysis of protein networks and their interactions in cells, signaling events among cancer cells, interactions among the cancer cells, and the tumor microenvironment. Proteomics as one of the modern areas of biochemistry holds great promise in cancer study. Inasmuch as, proteome reflects the real state of a cell, tissue or organism, it is expected to achieve more accurate tumor markers for disease diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring. In fact, the utility of this innovative large-scale proteome analyzer has shown significant prospective in biomarker discovery, patient monitoring, drug targeting and cell signaling; moreover, advances in the field of proteomics will provide new insight into the molecular complexity of the disease process, and enable the development of tools to help in treatment as well as in detection and prevention. In this review, proteomics approaches in cancer studies have been represented and discussed