Project

Method development for multi-modal imaging mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS and MALDI-MS): fusing elemental with molecular information to gain insight into hypoxia-driven processes in cancer

Code
01P05020
Duration
01 October 2020 → 30 September 2023
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Analytical spectrometry
    • Instrumental methods
    • Bioinorganic chemistry
Keywords
Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry Metallomics
 
Project description

Tumor hypoxia is one of the hallmarks of cancer and has turned into a central issue in cancer treatment since it is associated with malignant tumor progression, resistance to therapy and increased metastatic spread. To date, many aspects of hypoxia-induced changes in tumors remain to be elucidated. This drives the need to develop multi-modal imaging workflows for discovering and identifying key biomolecules in the heterogeneous tumor microenvironment and to investigate the role of essential mineral elements in hypoxia-driven signaling pathways. The microanalytical techniques matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI – for high-throughput multiplexed molecular screening and high-precision molecular identification) and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry imaging (LA-ICP-MSI – for targeted proteomic analysis using metal-conjugated antibodies and untargeted analysis of the metallome) will be pushed to the next level and combined into a novel multi-modal imaging approach for obtaining spatially resolved molecular and elemental information at the cellular level. This project focuses on the development of novel analytical methods, a high-throughput calibration strategy and a multi-modal imaging workflow to combine metallomic, metabolomic, proteomic, lipidomic and morphological information of the breast tumor microenvironment to achieve a more complete picture of hypoxia-driven signaling pathways.