I have been conducting cancer research projects in discovery of clinically relevant cancer biomarkers in the Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics at the University of Michigan Medical Center for eight years. Over the years, I have been engaged in research projects to develop mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods and assays to identify and validate protein markers in patient blood and tissues for early detection of HCC and pancreatic cancer. These projects have been supported by NCI based RO1 and R21 grants that are either from Dr. Lubman, the laboratory director, or from our collaborators. I have made significant contributions to these research programs and have authored and co-authored 24 peer-reviewed articles related to these projects. My major contributions include: 1) developed a high-throughput 96-well plate platform for glycan extraction and processes for a large number of samples, with a combination of MS-based assays for quantitation of changes in glycan structures that can be used as markers for cancer; 2) established an automated HPLC-based column immobilized with specific antibody for high-purity, single step enrichment of target glycoproteins from serum for subsequent glycomic/glycoproteomic analyses; 3) developed a quantitative MS method to detect fucosylated glycans at low levels in target serum glycoproteins by utilizing a novel labeling reagent; 4) built an innovative strategy of isobaric protein-level labeling for serum glycoprotein quantification analysis by nano LC-MS/MS. I am currently involved in the NCI-funded program of `Serum Glyco-Markers of Early HCC, where a phase II validation study of serum bifucosylated haptoglobin for early detection of HCC on an EDRN blinded set of 760 serum samples is in progress. Under this award, I will continue to develop novel methods and strategies in glycomics and glycoproteomics for discovery of cancer glyco-biomarkers on archived serum samples, which include: 1) to develop a new method to identify core- fucosylated glycopeptides in serum glycoproteins involved in the development of HCC and then screen for these specific glycopeptides among HCC and cirrhosis patients using MRM-MS; 2) to develop a large-scale intact N- glycopeptide analysis in low-abundant serum glycoproteins using LC-EThcD-MS/MS to uncover unique changes of site-specific serum N-glycopeptides correlated with HCC; 3) to identify site-specific glycan changes as well as sialylation aberrations in target serum glycoproteins that are highly associated with HCC using HILIC- LC-MS/MS and PGC-LC-MS/MS, respectively. I will also expand my research to develop an exosome-based MS assay for discovery of unique changes in glycans/site-specific N-glycopeptides in serum-derived exosomes between HCC and cirrhosis patients and to apply these methods for identification and validation of potential glyco-markers in other types of cancer. These methods provide new strategies for detection and accurate quantitation of detailed changes in glycans/glycopeptides/core-Fc glycopeptides in patient serum/exosomes, which can be broadly applied for biomarker discovery and validation studies by other investigators.

Public Health Relevance

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third deadliest cancer in the United States. The proposed project will focus on the development of mass spec-based methods to identify novel glyco-markers on archived serum samples for early HCC detection based on the presence of characteristic glycans/glycopeptides/core-Fc glycopeptides in patient serum. We also propose to develop an exosome-based MS assay for discovery of unique changes in glycans/site-specific N-glycopeptides in serum-derived exosomes between HCC and cirrhosis patients as novel biomarkers for HCC.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Project #
5R50CA221808-02
Application #
9784760
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCA1)
Program Officer
Rinaudo, Jo Ann S
Project Start
2018-09-13
Project End
2023-08-31
Budget Start
2019-09-01
Budget End
2020-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Surgery
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Zhu, Jianhui; Warner, Elisa; Parikh, Neehar D et al. (2018) Glycoproteomic markers of hepatocellular carcinoma-mass spectrometry based approaches. Mass Spectrom Rev :