Proteomics in gynecologic malignancies: Advances to date

Proteomics, the study of the proteome and its activation state, integrates several fundamental techniques: high-throughput protein purification and profiling, the use of genomic and proteomic databases, and mass spectrometry. In gynecologic oncology, proteomics will contribute greatly to our understanding of the molecular basis of cancer growth. It holds promise for the identification of potential pathologic markers and therapeutic targets and for providing information in clinical applications. This article reviews recent progress in proteomic techniques and their applications in the search for biomarkers for early diagnosis, disease monitoring, treatment response predicting, therapy tailoring, and identification of novel molecular targets, in gynecologic oncology. However, a major challenge of removing high-abundance proteins from biologic complexes still remains.