Phosphoproteomics and targeted anti-tumor therapies

We have developed procedures to acquire the phosphoproteomic profiles of cell lines before and after stimulation with activators or treatment with kinase inhibitors. The profiles were obtained combining affinity chromatography, electrophoretic separation and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for protein identification. Studies were performed using a collection of cell lines from melanoma, hepatoma and other tumor types derived from thyroid, colon, breast and ovary tissues. Stimulations were performed using ligands for receptor tyrosine kinases and inhibitions using drugs specific for molecular targets, including Iressa, RPI-1, Erlotinib, PLX4032 and Sorafenib. This work has identified several new targets now being validated on clinical specimens. This second line of studies prompted to establish adequate methods of processing and storing of tissues to preserve protein phosphorylation status. Remarkably these activities, taken together, have contributed to the development of new interdisciplinary programs in 'Fondazione'