Karri L. Ballard

Clinical and Plasma Proteomic Markers Correlating With Chronic Kidney Disease After Liver Transplantation

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) occurs frequently after liver transplantation (LT) and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Thus, there is a pressing need to identify characteristics and biomarkers diagnostic of CKD to enable early diagnosis allowing preemptive interventions, as well as mechanistic insights into the progression from kidney injury to irreversible kidney failure. We analyzed 342 patients who had baseline glomerular filteration rate (GFR) >60 at the time of LT and are now >3 years post‐LT. Risk factors for post‐LT CKD were compared between three different groups defined by current GFR: >90 (n = 40), 60–90 (n = 146) and <60 (n = 156) mL/min. Age, cyclosporine use and pre‐LT GFR were independently associated with new onset CKD. A subset (n = 64) without viral/immune disease or graft dysfunction underwent multianalyte plasma proteomic evaluations for correlation with CKD. Plasma proteomic analysis of two independent cohorts, test (n = 22) and validation (n = 42), identified 10 proteins highly associated with new onset CKD. In conclusion, we have identified clinical characteristics and a unique plasma proteomic signature correlating with new onset CKD after LT. These preliminary results are currently being validated in a prospective, multicenter study to determine if this signature precedes the onset of CKD and resolves with early interventions aimed at preserving kidney function.

Abstract 2500: Analysis of protein biomakers in prostate and colorectal tumor lysates.

Traditional tumor biomarkers are proteins that have been shed in the bloodstream and have been critical in identifying and treating cancer. We sought to survey proteins relevant to oncology in colon and prostate tumors; in order to identify potential proteins of interest for cancer research. Four colon and three prostate tumors were homogenized and 115 proteins were analyzed from the Oncology MAP 2.0. Each tumor had 2 fractions homogenized to look at heterogeneity of the protein with the tumor. In all of the samples measured 102 of the 115 protein showed levels above the LLOQ. Five proteins (PSP94, Tenascin-X, lipocalin-1, Tie-1 and BAFF) were 100 fold higher in prostate tumors compared to colon tumors (P Citation Format: Laurie L. Stephen, Marc Damour, Josh Kemp, Karri L. Ballard, Ralph L. McDade, James P. Mapes. Analysis of protein biomakers in prostate and colorectal tumor lysates. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2500. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2500

Abstract 4954: Development and validation of 50 serum cancer multiplexed biomarkers

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Biomarkers are indicators of normal biological processes and can be monitored to look at physiological changes. In cancer, a pattern of biomarkers may be useful for the detection, reoccurrence and response to treatment. We have identified 50 biomarkers implicated in cancer and have developed bead-based multiplexed immunoassays for the Luminex system, defined as the OncologyMAP™. Multiplexing is a cost effective method which allows for the measurement of multiple proteins with little sample volume. The OncologyMAP™ consists of markers of cell damage (Annexin A1, HMGB1), soluble receptors (uPAR, TIE-2), enzymes (PSAT-1, aldose reductase), signaling molecules (calcvasculin, EpCAM)) and growth factors (endostatin, BAFF). All markers showed positive signals in either normal serum and plasma samples or cancer serum. Multiplexed assays were run on a TECAN EVO and showed good precision, linearity and spike recovery. The OncologyMAP™ is a valuable tool for cancer biomarker discovery Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4954.