High-throughput analysis of 19 endogenous androgenic steroids by ultra-performance convergence chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Jonathan L. Quanson, Marietjie A. Stander, Elzette Pretorius, Carl Jenkinson, Angela E. Taylor, Karl-heinz Storbeck

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Citations (Scopus)
270 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

11-Oxygenated steroids such as 11-ketotestosterone and 11-ketodihydrotestosterone have recently been shown to play a putative role in the development and progression of castration resistant prostate cancer. In this study we report on the development of a high throughput ultra-performance convergence chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPC2-MS/MS) method for the analysis of thirteen 11-oxygenated and six canonical C19 steroids isolated from a cell culture matrix. Using an Acquity UPC2 BEH 2-EP column we found that UPC2 resulted in superior selectivity, increased chromatographic efficiency and a scattered elution order when compared to conventional reverse phase ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). Furthermore, there was a significant improvement in sensitivity (5–50 times). The lower limits of quantification ranged between 0.01–10 ng mL−1, while the upper limit of quantification was 100 ng mL−1 for all steroids. Accuracy, precision, intra-day variation, recovery, matrix effects and process efficiency were all evaluated and found to be within acceptable limits. Taken together we show that the increased power of UPC2-MS/MS allows the analyst to complete in vitro assays at biologically relevant concentrations for the first time and in so doing determine the routes of steroid metabolism which is vital for studies of androgen responsive cancers, such as prostate cancer, and could highlight new mechanisms of disease progression and new targets for cancer therapy.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)131-138
JournalJournal of Chromatography. B, Analytical Technologies in the Biomedical and Life Sciences
Volume1031
Early online date18 Jul 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Sept 2016

Keywords

  • Adrenal androgens
  • Gas chromatography
  • Steroids
  • Supercritical fluid chromatography
  • Ultra performance convergence chromatography
  • Ultra performance liquid chromatography

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'High-throughput analysis of 19 endogenous androgenic steroids by ultra-performance convergence chromatography tandem mass spectrometry'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this