Quantification of cell-free mSHOX2 Plasma DNA for therapy monitoring in advanced stage non-small cell (NSCLC) and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients.

Purpose: Most patients suffering from advanced lung cancer die within a few months. To exploit new therapy regimens we need better methods for the assessment of a therapy response.

Material And Methods: In a pilot study we prospectively enrolled 36 patients with advanced NSCLC and SCLC (34 stage IV, 2 stage IIIB) of whom 34 received standard platinum-based chemo/radiotherapy and two were treated with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Glyoxylate, a new marker metabolite of type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by a variety of metabolic impairments that are closely linked to nonenzymatic glycation reactions of proteins and peptides resulting in advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Reactive aldehydes derived from sugars play an important role in the generation of AGEs. Using metabolite profiling to characterize human plasma from diabetic versus nondiabetic subjects we observed in a recent study that the reactive aldehyde glyoxylate was increased before high levels of plasma glucose, typical for a diabetic condition, could be measured.

A new metabolomic signature in type-2 diabetes mellitus and its pathophysiology.

Objective: The objective of the current study was to find a metabolic signature associated with the early manifestations of type-2 diabetes mellitus.

Research Design And Method: Modern metabolic profiling technology (MxP™ Broad Profiling) was applied to find early alterations in the plasma metabolome of type-2 diabetic patients. The results were validated in an independent study.

Quality markers addressing preanalytical variations of blood and plasma processing identified by broad and targeted metabolite profiling.

Background: Metabolomics is a valuable tool with applications in almost all life science areas. There is an increasing awareness of the essential need for high-quality biospecimens in studies applying omics technologies and biomarker research. Tools to detect effects of both blood and plasma processing are a key for assuring reproducible and credible results.

The role of DNA methylation as biomarkers in the clinical management of lung cancer.

It is now widely accepted that cancer is caused by complex interactions between genetic and epigenetic factors and the environment. Only in the last 20 years, DNA methylation has been recognized as an epigenetic mechanism, which plays a major role during the development and progression of cancers. Accordingly, DNA methylation profiling provides a useful source for biomarkers in distinct clinical questions; for example, risk stratification, diagnosis, staging, prognosis and therapy-response prediction.