Gene Expression Detection Assay for Cancer Clinical Use

Narrandes, Shavira; Xu, Wayne

ThyraMIRâ„¢ is a commercial RT-PCR assay developed by Interpace Diagnostics Inc. It is used for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules, one of the most common cancer types, based on the evaluation of expression of 10 miRNAs. 14 The well-known Oncotype DX, a gene expression profiling technique developed by Genomic Health, was the first genomic biomarker assay advising on breast cancer treatment options. Through the identification of 250 candidate genes with known functions and relevancy to hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, a 21-gene signature of 5 reference genes and 16 cancer-related genes involved in tumor proliferation, invasion, and estrogen signaling was established. It is able to predict the recurrence risk in early-stage (stages I and II), estrogen receptor (ER) positive, lymph node negative breast cancer patients to assess and predict the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) in treating a patient. Techniques similar to Oncotype DX have also been applied in colon cancers. For example, two separate studies established 18-gene signatures, both of 13 cancer-related genes and 5 reference genes to study stage II colon cancers.