Zhu, YingdiYingdiZhuPick, HorstHorstPickGasilova, NataliaNataliaGasilovaLi, XiaoyunXiaoyunLiTZU-EN LINLaeubli, Heinz PhilippHeinz PhilippLaeubliZippelius, AlfredAlfredZippeliusHo, Ping-ChihPing-ChihHoGirault, Hubert H.Hubert H.Girault2024-09-132024-09-132019https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85064695447&origin=resultslisthttps://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/720907Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry is used to detect intact whole exosomes, yielding exosomal fingerprints within minutes. This rapid exosome detection approach is proposed as a potential tool for cancer studies. Melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer, is investigated as a cancer model. The approach allows classification of melanoma cell lines from the stage level through mathematical analysis of the fingerprints and enables the tracking of protein transfer from parental cells to the secreted exosomes by following up certain fingerprint peaks. Protein identities of exosomal fingerprint peaks were clarified by correlation with top-down and bottom-up proteomics. The protein-assigned fingerprints provide a qualitative and semi-quantitative detection of melanoma biomarkers and help to explore melanoma progression via exosome-mediated intercellular communication. Targeting bloodstream-circulating exosomes, the proposed exosome fingerprinting approach also promises fast detection of melanoma diseases and dynamic monitoring of the disease state with proof of concept in mouse and human. Cancer is a group of serious diseases greatly threatening public health. It causes millions of human deaths globally every year. Convenient and easily accessible tools for cancer detection and monitoring are key for disease management. This manuscript proposes a new method for cancer studies by analysis of bloodstream-circulating exosomes using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, a technique widely available in hospitals for microbiology. In this method, exosomes isolated from patient blood are directly analyzed by mass spectrometry fingerprinting without any preparatory treatment. The exosomal fingerprints can be used for cancer classification through mathematical analysis and also allow qualitative and semi-quantitative detection of cancer biomarkers by following up the corresponding fingerprint peaks. We believe that the proposed approach could introduce a new perspective on cancer diagnosis and monitoring. Detection of bloodstream-circulating exosomes in their intact whole state using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is proposed as a potential tool for cancer studies. © 2019 Elsevier Inc.blood testscancer biomarkerscancer detectioncancer monitoringexosomesmass spectrometrymatrix-assisted laser desorption ionizationSDG3: Good health and well-being[SDGs]SDG3journal article10.1016/j.chempr.2019.04.0072-s2.0-85064695447