Protein microarrays: molecular profiling technologies for clinical specimens.

Proteomics, the study of protein function within biologic systems, will further our understanding of cancer pathogenesis. Coupled with transcript profiling, proteomics can herald the advent of molecular therapy tailored to the individual patient's neoplasm. Protein microarrays, one emerging class of proteomic technologies, have broad applications for discovery and quantitative analysis. This technology is uniquely suited to gather information about the post-translational modifications of proteins reflecting the activity state of signal pathways and networks. Protein microarrays now make it feasible to conduct signal network profiling within cellular samples. Nevertheless, to be successful, design and use of protein microarrays must take into consideration enormous analytical challenges. A subclass of protein microarrays, Reverse Phase Arrays, created to meet these challenges, has been optimized for use with tissue specimens, and is now in use for the analysis of biopsy samples for clinical trial research.