This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Watters, J. W. Articles by Roberts, C. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Watters, J. W. Articles by Roberts, C. J. Related Collections Cellular Pathobiology Cellular Pathobiology: Cancer Genes and Genomics

Reviews

Developing gene expression signatures of pathway deregulation in tumors

¹ Department of Molecular Profiling, Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, Pennsylvania and ² Rosetta Inpharmatics LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.), Seattle, Washington

Requests for reprints: Christopher J. Roberts, Rosetta Inpharmatics LLC, 401 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109. Phone: 206-802-7304. E-mail: christopher_roberts2{at}merck.com

Recent advances in our understanding of cancer biology have led to the development of therapies targeting specific signaling pathways. Molecular targeting promises to improve our ability to predict who will respond by assessing the state of these targeted pathways in patients. However, a single pathway can be deregulated by multiple mechanisms, and for some pathways it may be difficult to assess activation state by analyzing a single oncogene or tumor suppressor. Therefore, developing gene expression signatures of pathway activation status using model systems or human tumor samples may enable a more reliable measurement of pathway activity. This review discusses recent advances in the identification of gene expression–based signatures of pathway deregulation and how this information may lead to improved therapeutic response prediction. [Mol Cancer Ther 2006;5(10):2444–9]