In situ molecular profiling of breast cancer biomarkers with multicolor quantum dots

A study was conducted to demonstrate the use of multicolor quantum dots (QD) for quantitative and in situ profiling multiple biomarkers, using breast cancer cells and clinical tissue specimens. The study also compared and validated the QD-based molecular profiling technology, with standard western blotting (WB) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). QDs emitting at 525 nm, 565 nm, 605 nm, and 705 nm were directly conjugated, to demonstrate the feasibility of multiplexed labeling. The multicolor QD bioconjugates were used for continuous detection of the five clinically significant tumor markers in breast cancer cells. Two breast cancer cells were selected, as they had different expression levels of the five protein biomarkers. The results of the study show that QD bioconjugates can be used to detect protein biomarkers regardless of their cellular location in breast cancer cells.