Research spotlight | Translational cancer biology

From spatial proteomics to tissue validation: DHCR7 in early ovarian cancer

A recent Molecular Systems Biology study used spatial proteomics to investigate early changes in high-grade serous ovarian cancer, including precursor lesions in the fallopian tube. In this research spotlight, Mihnea-Paul Dragomir discusses how the team moved from discovery proteomics to tissue-based validation using an Atlas Antibodies / Human Protein Atlas antibody against DHCR7.

Fact box

Names: Mihnea-Paul Dragomir and Fabian Coscia
Affiliations: Mihnea-Paul Dragomir: Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Pathology; Berlin Institute of Health at Charité; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin. Fabian Coscia: Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Spatial Proteomics Group, Berlin.
Publication: Spatial proteomics of ovarian cancer precursors delineates early disease changes and drug targets, Molecular Systems Biology, DOI: 10.1038/s44320-025-00168-4
Antibodies highlighted: Anti-DHCR7 antibody, Atlas Antibodies/HPA, HPA044280; RRID: AB_10794893.
Application area: Spatial proteomics, immunohistochemistry, high-grade serous ovarian cancer, serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma, fallopian tube precursor lesions
Product / resource connection: HPA-derived antibodies, antibody validation data, tissue staining data and Human Protein Atlas expression resources

“When moving from discovery proteomics to biological interpretation, immunohistochemistry provides subcellular resolution, especially in the hands of a pathologist.”
— Mihnea-Paul Dragomir

“Knowing which antibody is most suitable and what staining pattern to expect saves time and makes it possible to focus on biological discoveries.”
— Mihnea-Paul Dragomir

“The most exciting question for me is the analysis of big data with AI — using this wonderful tool to discover patterns we could not see.”
— Mihnea-Paul Dragomir

Q&A

Your study used spatial proteomics to investigate early changes in high-grade serous ovarian cancer. What was the main biological question?

From a proteomic perspective, the precursors of high-grade serous ovarian cancer, termed serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma or STIC, had not been explored. We wanted to understand how the proteomic makeup of STIC compares to normal fallopian tube and to high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Importantly, we did not limit the analysis to the epithelial compartment alone, but also analyzed the stroma.

What did spatial proteomics allow you to see that would have been difficult to capture otherwise?

Spatial proteomics allowed the team to study protein changes in the tissue context of the disease. Instead of looking only at bulk tissue, the approach made it possible to compare different compartments and disease stages, helping to identify early dysregulated pathways and potential therapeutic targets.

One finding was the upregulation of cholesterol biosynthesis enzymes, including DHCR7. Why was antibody-based validation important?

After discovering by mass spectrometry that DHCR7 was upregulated in STIC and high-grade serous ovarian cancer, we wanted to validate the target orthogonally in tissue samples. In this case, we expected the protein to be overexpressed in the cytoplasm and to be homogeneously expressed. More broadly, when moving from discovery proteomics to biological interpretation, immunohistochemistry provides subcellular resolution, especially in the hands of a pathologist.

What do reliable, well-characterized antibodies add in translational cancer research?

Reliable antibodies add confidence when researchers move from candidate discovery to biological interpretation. Knowing which antibody is most suitable, what staining pattern to expect, whether expression is homogeneous or heterogeneous, and what the subcellular localization should be saves time. It allows researchers to focus on making biological discoveries rather than establishing IHC protocols from scratch.

Do you use the Human Protein Atlas as a resource in your work?

Yes. We always use the Human Protein Atlas to check the expression of a target of interest in different tissues, cells and diseases; to find the best antibody when planning IHC; and to check expression in cancer cell lines in order to select the best models for in vitro studies.

Looking ahead, where is spatial proteomics heading?

The most exciting question is the analysis of big data with AI: using these tools to discover patterns we could not see before, including patterns in protein expression or in the genome. From a pathology perspective, the future of spatial proteomics is to integrate this type of tool into routine practice to improve diagnosis, prognosis and quantification of predictive markers.

Explore the Atlas Antibodies anti-DHCR7 antibody HPA044280, view Human Protein Atlas validation data, or contact Atlas Antibodies for support with IHC antibody selection.

Explore anti-DHCR7 (HPA044280) View HPA validation data