Proteome analysis of a human uveal melanoma primary cell culture by 2-DE and MS.

We present here the first proteomics analysis of uveal melanoma (UM) cells. These cells represent a good model for the identification of polypeptide markers, which could be developed as diagnostic tools. UM is the most common primary intraocular tumour in adults. In contrast to other cancers, the survival rate of patients with this malignancy has changed little over the past few decades; a better understanding of the molecular biology of UM oncogenesis and metastasis is needed to build the basis for the identification of novel drug targets. In the study presented here, proteins from a UM primary cell culture were separated by 2-DE using a pI 3-10 gradient; 270 spots were analysed by LC-MS/MS, identifying 683 proteins derived from 393 different genes. Of those, 69 (18%) are related to cancer processes involving cell division, proliferation, invasion, metastasis, oncogenesis, drug resistance and others. To our knowledge, 96% of the proteins identified, including 16 hypothetical proteins, have never been reported in UM before. This study represents the first step towards the establishment of a UM protein database as a valuable resource for the study of this malignancy.