A Microfluidic Technique for Quantification of Steroids in Core Needle Biopsies

Abstract

Core needle biopsy (CNB) sampling is known to be inexpensive and minimally invasive relative to traditional tissue resectioning. But CNBs are often not used in analytical settings because of the tiny amount of sample and analyte. To address this challenge, we introduce an analytical method capable of multiplexed steroid quantification in CNB samples-those studied here ranged in mass from 2 to 8 mg. The new method uses digital microfluidics to extract steroids from CNB tissue samples (including a solid-phase extraction cleanup step) followed by analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The method has limits of detection of 3.6, 1.6, 5.8, and 8.5 fmol for estradiol, androstendione, testoterone, and progesterone, respectively. We propose that future generations of this method may be useful for regular quantification of steroids in core needle biopsy samples of breast tissue to inform dosage and timing of antihormone or hormone replacement therapies as part of a personalized medicine approach to treating a variety of hormone-sensitive disorders.

Simultaneous Visualization and Quantitation of Multiple Steroid Hormones Based on Signal‐Amplified Biosensing with Duplex Molecular Recognition

“…[8] Therefore, to achieve more accu-rate diagnosis of disease and improve diagnosis reliability,s imultaneousquantitationofthese multiple hormones is anecessity.C urrent analytical techniques for quantifying multiple steroid hormones include mass spectrometry [9,10] and liquidchromatography mass-spectrophotometry. [11][12][13] Although these methodsp rovide unique advantages, they require several sample pretreatmentp rocesses and sophisticated laboratory equipment, all of which hamper their applications in point-ofcare (POC) diagnostics and individualized medicalc are. [14][15][16] Therefore, ar eal-timed etection method fort he simultaneous measuremento fm ultiple steroid hormones is seriously needed.…”

Relationships between Circulating and Intraprostatic Sex Steroid Hormone Concentrations

“…Future studies aiming to elucidate whether sex steroid hormones are implicated in prostate carcinogenesis should quantitate precancerous intraprostatic hormone concentrations using new technologies that only require small tissue samples, such as that available from needle biopsy (19, 23, 24). …”

Towards a personalized approach to aromatase inhibitor therapy: a digital microfluidic platform for rapid analysis of estradiol in core-needle-biopsies

“…As a step towards personalized treatment, we recently reported a digital microfluidic (DMF) strategy for quantifying E2 and other hormones in core needle biopsy (CNB) samples of breast tissue. 11 CNBs are ideal for personalized medicine, as the ∼milligram-sized samples can be collected in the doctor's office, without general anesthesia or risk of scarring. But our original technique 11 relied on analysis by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS); this type of instrument is not readily available in clinics or small labs, making it inappropriate for the rapid turn-around needed to guide personalized care.…”