Up to now, there are no protein tumor markers with a specificity and sensitivity sufficient to have a utility in prognosis and early diagnosis of cancer. Recent advances in proteomics approaches have led to the identification of novel tumor markers of cancer that may have a utility in screening strategies and treatment. The purpose of the current review is to describe the major advances in cancer proteomics, especially those related to the study of serum biomarkers, immune-related responses (autoantibodies) and alterations in cellular proteins. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

In the present study, total proteins from a tissue of an infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast (IDCA) were compared by the two-dimensional electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) to proteins from an adjacent non-neoplastic breast tissue. Analysis of multiple gels for each sample identified nine proteins present in the tumor sample that were less present in the matched normal adjacent breast tissue and four proteins present at higher levels in the normal tissue. The altered proteins were identified by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and search in protein databases. Protein disulfide isomerase, BiP protein, calreticulin, cathepsin D, inorganic pyrophosphatase, vimentin, apolipoprotein A1 precursor, tropomyosin 4 and beta5-tubulin were identified as being significantly over-expressed in the IDCA with regard to the normal tissue. The expression of fibrinogen E-fragment (known as anti-angiogenic factor) as well as of fibrin E, Pro2619 and actinG1 was found to be inhibited in the tumor sample. The identified proteins might play an important role during malignant transformation, breast cancer progression, and angiogenesis as well as in cellular signaling. This study demonstrates quantitative and qualitative changes in protein abundance between IDCA and normal tissue. The identification of these differentially expressed proteins could lead to a better understanding of the molecular events linked to breast cancer progression.