In imaging mass spectrometry, mass spectra are acquired over the surface of a sample such as a tissue slice. The identification of spatial patterns among m/z (mass-to-charge ratio) values is a key goal in analyzing these datasets. We describe the development of a similarity measure based on the hypergeometric distribution, its properties in comparison to other similarity measures, and its application in identifying co-localized m/z values.

"Ovarian Cancer Invasiveness Correlates with Increased Cell Deformability"

Wenwei Xu - Advisor, Todd Sulchek, PhD

Cancerous ovarian cells (OVCAR3, OVCAR4, HEY and HEYA8) are softer than healthy immortalized ovarian surface epithelium (IOSE) cells. In addition, within cancerous ovarian cell types, invasiveness and migration are positively correlated with cell deformability. Stiffness of individual cells can distinguish not only ovarian cancer cell types from healthy cell types, but also invasive cancer types from less invasive types.

The Graduate and Post-Doc (GaP) Seminar Series is a weekly event of biotechnology related research presentations by two graduate students or post-docs of IBB and is co-sponsored by BME. It is held every Wednesday at 12:00pm in IBB 1128 and refreshments are provided. If your research group or department would like to present at future seminars, please contact Manu Platt, PhD.