Development of a stable and robust assay for early detection of breast caner using gene expression technology and peripheral blood sample

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, and early detection is a key for successful treatment and survival. DiaGenic AS (“DiaGenic”) is developing a gene expression based assay for early detection of breast cancer using blood as clinica l sample. The studies conducted so far strongly suggest that the assay can be used to detect early stages of breast cancer. Although the results obtained are promising, several tecknical issues remain to be addressed and resolved before a diagnostic rel evant product could be made. The purpose of the project is directed to meet this need. The most reliable and suitable platform for gene expression analysis will be identified by comparing microarrays, macroarrays and real time quantitative RT-PCR in ter ms of reproducibility of the data generated, and extent of biological information contained in the data set. The selected platform will be further optimised using samples from different sets of patients and control series, and by dev eloping and integrating advanced statistical techniques for analysis of gene expression data.