Identification of candidate biomarker mass (<i>m</i>/<i>z</i>) ranges in serous ovarian adenocarcinoma using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry profiling

<div><p></p><p><i>Objective</i>: To differentiate plasma from ovarian cancer and healthy individuals using MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy.</p><p><i>Materials and methods</i>: MALDI-TOF was used to generate profiles of immuno-depleted plasma samples (89 cancers and 199 healthy individuals) that were fractionated using three types of magnetic beads (HIC8, WCX and IMAC-Cu).</p><p><i>Results</i>: Differentially expressed mass ranges showing >1.5–2-fold change in expression from HIC8 (30), WCX (12) and IMAC-Cu (6) fractions were identified. Cross validation and recognition capability scores for the models indicated discrimination between the classes.</p><p><i>Conclusions</i>: Spectral profiles can differentiate plasma samples of ovarian cancer patients from healthy individuals.</p>