Recent advances in clinical proteomics using mass spectrometry.

The ultimate objective of clinical proteomics is the successful discovery, validation and translation of biomarkers, together with new therapeutic targets into medical practices. New highly developed technologies in proteomics and their use in understanding tumor biology have significant clinical potential in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of disease. Areas such as MS, new labeling technologies and advancements in bioinformatics systems are now used to successfully detect disease-associated biomarkers together with therapeutic targets in complex biological specimens, including biofluids, cell lysates and tissue biopsies. Recent improvements in sample preparation (specifically focused on fractionation and enrichment) are enabling the analysis of low-abundance proteins together with many types of post-translational modifications. Targeted proteomic diagnostics will play a significant role in the development of personalized molecular medicine, a process that will be vital in modernizing healthcare structures.