Shared Resources
Analytical Laboratory
Faculty Director: Adrian Franke, PhD

Publication list via PubMed

Information for the general public

The Analytical Laboratory Shared Resource (ALSR) was established to provide a central shared facility for the analysis of molecules of interest from human tissues and body fluids in support of clinical, epidemiologic and basic science studies relating to the prevention and understanding of cancer in human populations. In this capacity, it provides a key link in facilitating collaborative interdisciplinary research at the CRCH and utilizes results from Dr. Adrian Franke’s independent research activities in aspects of cancer prevention.

Fully automated ultra-high pressure liquid chromatograph (1) for analyte separation at high speed followed by state-of-the-art high accuracy orbitrap mass spectrometry (2) or ultra-sensitive tandem mass spectrometry (3).
Fully automated ultra-high pressure liquid chromatograph (1) for analyte separation at high speed followed by state-of-the-art high accuracy orbitrap mass spectrometry (2) or ultra-sensitive tandem mass spectrometry (3).

Under the direction of Dr. Franke, this laboratory is conducting analyses of clinical analytes (homocysteine, triglycerides, HDL- and total cholesterol, creatinine, and others) Robot for automated liquid-liquid extraction of biospecimenand lipid soluble plasma antioxidants (trans-lutein, trans-zeaxanthin, cis-lutein, cis-zeaxanthin, trans-anhydrolutein, cis-anhydrolutein, total α-cryptoxanthin, trans-β-cryptoxanthin, cis-β-cryptoxanthin, total lycopene, total dihydrolycopene, total α-carotene, trans-β-carotene, cis-β-carotene, retinol, retinyl palmitate, α-, β-, γ-, and δ-tocopherol) in support of several NIH-funded projects, including research on colorectal cancer (L. Le Marchand), lung cancer (L. Le Marchand), breast cancer (M. Goodman, A.Franke/Q. Dai), cervical cancer (M. Goodman), bladder cancer (A. Nomura) and prostate cancer (L. Kolonel). It also provides measurement of serum carotenoids and vitamins for projects evaluating intervention studies (G. Maskarinec) and determines these analytes in tissue and cells (J.Bertram, M. Goodman, B, Hernandez). Assays are updated continuously using state-of-the art technology. For example, blood Vitamin C is now measured by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection resulting in faster and more accurate analyses relative to the traditional colorimetric method. Most HPLC based assays have been or are being changed towards smaller column diameters and faster flow rates resulting in higher sensitivity, faster analysis time, and less waste generation particularly when ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography can be applied.

(Click to see full image)
Fast and selective analysis of isoflavonoids by ultra high-pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

In addition to HPLC instrumentation mostly used with photo-diode array, electrochemical, and fluorescence detection, this laboratory applies assays based on liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS). One tandem MS system (triple-quadrupole TSQ Ultra, ThermoFisher) is available since 2005 through an award from the National Center for Research Resources and one ion trap based MS system funded by an NCI Cancer Center Support Grant supplement was upgraded to an accurate-mass orbitrap system (Exactive, ThermoFisher) in October 2009. MS based assays offer improved sensitivity, selectivity and accuracy of all the above measurements. New LC/MS and ELISA assays are currently implemented for protein analysis, CYP 3A4 phenotyping (cortisol, 6-beta-hydroxy cortisol), sex hormones, various natural products, coenzyme Q10 including reduced and oxidized forms (R. Cooney), vitamin D including its hydroxylated products (R. Cooney), vitamin K, and many other analytes as required by Center members. Most recently new projects were initiated by implementing metabolomics using orbitrap LC/MS techniques (A. Franke, L. Le Marchand, U. Lim, R. Cooney, G. Okimoto, I. Pagano).

 

SERVICES OFFERED
 Analysis:

Enzyme immunoassays

Equipment use

Consultation

All plasma assays can be done from serum.
All other ELISA assays can be performed (please investigate with Bob Cooney, bob@crch.hawaii.edu, or Adrian Franke, adrian@crch.hawaii.edu.)

AA = clinical auto analyzer
ECD = electrochemical detection
FD = fluorescence detectionHPLC = high pressure liquid chromatography
HPLC = high pressure liquid chromatography
LC/MS = liquid chromatography mass spectrometry
LC/MSMS = liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
NP = normal-phase
PDA = photo diode array detection
RBC = red blood cells