UA Cancer Center Analytical Chemistry Shared Resource (ACSR)

Overview of Services

The Analytical Chemistry Shared Resource (ACSR) provides Cancer Center investigators with centralized resources and expertise in performing analytical chemistry assays and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data analysis and interpretation. The Analytical Chemistry Shared Resource has been built around chromatography based instrumentation which provides the sensitivity and selectivity needed for the analysis of small molecules in pre-clinical drug discovery, chemical structure ID/confirmation, and analysis of inorganic chemicals.

Specifically, the ACSR has the following aims:

• To provide Cancer Center investigators with support in the development of chromatography-based analytical methods;
• To provide Cancer Center investigators with support in routine quantitative analysis of clinical and pre-clinical samples;
• To provide consultation in pharmacokinetic trial design and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data analysis.
• By continuing to provide state-of-the-art analytical and pharmacokinetic services, the ACSR laboratory should greatly augment pre-clinical drug discovery efforts and stimulate the incorporation of pharmacokinetic endpoints in clinical trials.

Services

• Consultation on study design including selection of existing assays and/or development of new assays
• Development and implementation of analytical chemistry methods for quantification of cancer therapeutic and preventive agents, nutrients, carcinogens, and endogenous biochemicals in biospecimens
• Quantitative analysis of cancer therapeutic and preventive agents, nutrients, carcinogens, and endogenous biochemicals in clinical and pre-clinical specimens
• Pharmacokinetic study design and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data analysis
• Targeted metabolomic analysis and untargeted metabolomic profiling
• Services provided by the ACSR are essential for the assessment of drug/nutrient/carcinogen exposure and disposition, and for the measurement of endogenous biochemicals as surrogate cancer-risk biomarkers and endpoint biomarkers in intervention studies. These measurements are indispensable in many established lines of research in the UACC, including preclinical and clinical evaluation of cancer therapeutic drugs and preventive interventions, assessment of biological, environmental, and lifestyle factors associated with cancer risk and disease progression, and identification of potential targets for intervention.

Equipment/Instruments

State-of-the-art equipment and sophisticated analytical chemistry techniques are provided by the ACSR to cover a broad variety of needs. Personnel are trained experts in the operation and maintenance of this equipment. They have the expertise to develop and optimize the appropriate methods. Available equipment includes:

• Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS)
• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
• Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS)
• High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
• Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography – Quadrupole/Time of
• Flight Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF)

Leadership

Location and hours of operation

Links and Resources

1. Analytical Chemistry Shared Resource

Contacts