Page 4 - Shimadzu Journal vol.5 Issue1

Insight from Customer

Professor Daniel W. Chan from

the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

We interviewed Professor Daniel W. Chan from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His research is focused
on the development and application of proteomic and immunologic techniques in the diagnosis, management, and
understanding of cancer. The relationship with Shimadzu started in 2009 when the Johns Hopkins Center for Biomarker
Discovery and Translation began utilizing Shimadzu mass spectrometers (AXIMA QIT and Resonance), primarily for
discovery and analysis of cancer related glycoforms.
Professor Chan has edited and written five books on immunoassay, immunoassay automation, diagnostic endocrinology,
and tumor markers. He has published about 300 articles including the tumor markers chapters in the Tietz Textbook of
Clinical Chemistry and in Tumor Markers: Physiology, Pathobiology, Technology, and Clinical Applications, which he also
co-edited. Prof. Chan was one of the founders of the USHUPO (Human Proteomics Organization) society. Currently, Prof.
Chan is the Editor-in-Chief of Clinical Proteomics. His research was recently recognized and awarded the inaugural
"Translational Proteomics Award" for outstanding achievement in proteomics at HUPO.

Professor Chan, thank you very much for spending some Why are you interested in this research? What is the goal?
time for this interview. At first, could you outline the
research and let us know what discovery and Currently there are many unmet needs, including clinical (benefits to
achievement have been made so far? patients, impact on clinical outcomes, etc.) and scientific knowledge for
the biology of diseases. There are also unmet technical needs, including
The focus of my research is cancer proteomics. In 2000, I founded the
analytical performance, automation, and operational issues for clinical
Center for Biomarker Discovery and Translation. The focus of the laboratory, such as reliability, higher throughput, faster results.
Center is to discover and translate proteomics cancer biomarkers using
mass spectrometry, protein microarrays and immunoassays. Our team As we address these unmet needs, we have a positive impact on human
developed the test OVA1 which is based on 5 proteomic biomarkers for health. Better disease biomarkers enable earlier detection, which
ovarian cancer. In 2009, this test became the 1st FDA cleared proteomic translates into saved lives. Our ultimate goals are early detection
in vitro diagnostic multivariate index assay (IVDMIA).
(screening) of aggressive cancer, prognosis with clinical outcomes, and
development of predictive biomarkers for targeted or immune therapy
I am the principal investigator (PI) of the Biomarker Reference
Laboratory (BRL) for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Early Detection which are more effective and less toxic (i.e. precision medicine and
Research Network (EDRN) and the NCI Clinical Proteomic Tumor “companion diagnostics”).
Analysis Consortium (CPTAC). We were instrumental in the
development of public-private partnerships leading to the clinical study, Could you tell us why you chose Shimadzu as your partner
publication and FDA approval in 2012 of two new prostate cancer tests when you established this new lab?
- proPSA (phi) and PCA3.
Shimadzu has provided our labs with exceptional tools for both our
Our efforts extend beyond discovery to include the translation of cancer discovery efforts as well as new clinical assay development. We are most
biomarkers. We have constructed a roadmap for the development of impressed with the reliability of Shimadzu instrumentation. These
cancer diagnostics and with close collaboration between researchers, state-of-the art instruments are our laboratory workhorses.
industry (including Shimadzu), clinicians, and regulatory agencies.

How are our instruments helping you?
Glycans play important roles in the function of glycoproteins in human
body. Currently, the detail structure analysis is challenging due to the
time-consuming and labor-intensive glycan analysis procedure, which
usually includes multi-step sequential treatments, HPLC or
electrophoreses purification, and mass spectrometry analysis. We have
found the Shimadzu AXIMA-ResonanceTMALDI-QIT-TOF- MSn to be a
very powerful platform for the analysis of the glycan sequences
without multistep separation or enzymatic treatment. This helps us
monitor the oxidization of glycans and better understand their roles as
disease biomarkers.
Dr. Daniel Chan in the Johns Hopkins Hospital Clinical Chemistry Laboratory

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