Proteomics in Urological Cancer Research.

Proteome is the word used to describe the total protein complement expressed by an organism a cell or a tissue type. Proteomic analysis allows the comparison of the proteins present in a diseased tissue sample with the proteins present in a normal tissue sample. Any proteins, which have been altered either quantitatively or qualitatively between the normal and diseased sample are likely to be associated with the disease process. These proteins can be identified and may be useful as diagnostic markers for the early detection of the disease or prognostic markers to predict the outcome of the disease or they may be used as drug targets for the development of new therapeutic agents. The purpose of this review is to outline the principle technologies involved in proteome analysis and indicate current and potential future applications of proteomic analysis in urological cancer research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]