Oncopeptidomics – A commentary on opportunities and limitations

Cancer cells exhibit specific changes in protein expression and alterations in proteolytic activities. Peptides are capable of reflecting these pathological changes and are educible by dedicated analytical technologies. Oncopeptidomics can be defined as the comprehensive multiplexed analysis of endogenous peptides from a biological sample, under defined conditions, to discover probable valid peptide tumor biomarker. Here, mass spectrometry has shown its potential as a comprehensive peptide profiling tool. The efforts to arrive at diagnostically relevant biomarkers may have been underestimated. The establishment of novel cancer biomarkers will necessitate a multidisciplinary effort and presumably require a duration comparable to the drug development process. This review will address current concepts, new perspectives and the developmental process leading to clinically useful peptide tumor markers.