Protein expression pattern identified for cervical cancer

Scientists have identified key proteomic patterns of cervical cancer cell lines, using quantitative analysis methods and mass spectrometry, which could be used to monitor the biological effects of the disease.

Cervical cancer is a big killer in the female population, with this type of cancer an excellent model for further investigation in the mechanisms of disease development and progression as it is almost always caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

In the study, published in the BMC Systems Biology journal, the team sought to identify the common proteomic profile of six cervical cancer cell lines, both positive and negative for HPV, and which differ from the profile corresponding to the non-tumourgenic cell line, HaCat.

Using quantitative analysis of 2D SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, the scientists identified a consensus of 66 proteins from the protein extracts of six cervical cancer cell lines.

The team determined that there is a 'central core of cervical cancer' protein expression pattern, with protein 14-3-3zeta identified as a major factor in determining if the cell lives or dies.