Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma in high risk populations using MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry

摘要

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is detected in a patient with liver disease. Mass spectrometry data from a blood-based sample from the patient is compared to a reference set of mass-spectrometry data from a multitude of other patients with liver disease, including patients with and without HCC, in a general purpose computer configured as a classifier. The classifier generates a class label, such as HCC or No HCC, for the test sample. A laboratory system for early detection of HCC in patients with liver disease is also disclosed. Alternative testing strategies using AFP measurement and a reference set for classification in the form of class-labeled mass spectral data from blood-based samples of lung cancer patients are also described, including multi-stage testing.

主权项

1. A method for early detection of HCC in a patient with liver disease comprising the steps of:
(a) performing MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry on a blood-based sample obtained from the patient by subjecting the sample to at least 100,000 laser shots and acquiring mass spectral data; (b) obtaining integrated intensity values in the mass spectral data of a multitude of pre-determined mass-spectral features; and (c) operating on the mass spectral data with a programmed computer implementing a classifier; wherein in the operating step the classifier compares the integrated intensity values with feature values of a training set of class-labeled mass spectral data obtained from a multitude of other patients with liver disease with the values obtained in step (b) with a classification algorithm and generates a class label for the sample, wherein the class label is associated with whether or not the patient has HCC.