genomic-based assays that only give the information about the potentiality of “what
can happen” (see also Pesce et al.^84 ). There are still some risks that include
(1) problems with reproducible sample collection and high-throughput preparation,
(2) time and still sample-consuming analysis, (3) high costs. The lack of strategies
that are analog to the amplification procedures like, e.g., PCR that enable develop-
ment of high-throughput assays using limited amount of starting material is still a
problem to be solved. The ways to overcome these obstacles are discussed above.
As recently demonstrated, proteomics are the next in line to deliver new tools to
help patients with chronic and other diseases in the way of healing or, at least, to
live longer and have a better quality of life.^85
In the last part of this chapter, contribution of proteomics to personalized
treatment of the most frequent diseases in the developed Western world such as
cancer; cardiovascular, urological, and neurodegenerative diseases; and diabetes
mellitus will be presented. Other possibilities of application of this technology for
diagnosis and personalized treatment of allergies and in some special categories
such as space medicine will also be shortly discussed (see also Table 1 ).
5.1 Cancer
Our current understanding of cancer is primarily limited to clinical hallmarks of this
disease, but specific cellular and molecular mechanisms still remain undiscovered.
As demonstrated by Chen et al. ( 2012 ), genetic markers can determine the predis-
position to the specific disease, also for tumor development, but molecular targeted
treatment strategies are only recently developed, and most of them are still in the
stage of clinical trials (see, e.g., Pieborn et al.^86 ). It was also demonstrated that the
personalized medicine that defines the individualized care is in most cases the only
way to understand, develop, and implement basic science investigations into
clinical treatment. After severe criticism a few years ago^87 that has led to the
significant change of the research strategy, proteomic investigations could demon-
strate that this technology provides unique tools for discovery of theranostic bio-
markers and also targets for cancer therapy.^88 This technology includes
phosphoproteomics, glycoproteomics, and determination of other PTMs, as well
as peptidomics, and it helps to translate basic science discoveries into the clinics. As
recently demonstrated, proteomics are the next in line to deliver new tools to help
patients with cancer and also with other diseases in the way of healing or, at least,
to live longer and have a better quality of life.^89
(^84) Pesce et al. ( 2013 ), pp. 24–28.
(^85) Chen et al. ( 2012 ), pp. 1293–1307.
(^86) Pieborn et al. ( 2014 ), pp. 2846–2855.
(^87) Boschetti et al. ( 2012 ), pp. 22–41; Poste ( 2011 ), pp. 156–157.
(^88) See Grubb et al. ( 2009 ), pp. 3044–3054, as well as Masuda and Yamada ( 2014 ), pp. 651–657.
(^89) Chen et al. ( 2012 ), pp. 1293–1307.
194 D. Josic ́and U. Andjelkovic ́