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T. Haferlach, A. Kohlmann, S. Schnittger, M. Dugas, W. Kern, C. Schoch
Genexpressionsanalysen bei akuten Leukämien: Diagnostik der Zukunft? / Gene expression profiling in acute leukemia: diagnostics of the future?
A comprehensive diagnosis in leukemia relies on a combination of several methods. Cytomorphology, cytochemistry, cytogenetics, fluorescence in situ hybridization, multiparameter flow cytometry, and molecular methods are applied in parallel. Recently, gene expression profiling using microarrays has made it possible to measure the expression of thousands of genes in one step. The respective specific signature leads to a molecular fingerprint of the tumor sample. Therefore, gene expression profiling may lead to a better molecular classification, insights into pathophysiology of malignant and benign diseases as well as to new treatment options. This can be approached best by using well-defined tumor subtypes. Thus, leukemias are a very informative model system. Furthermore, gene expression profiling may lead to new targeted therapies and can detect genes to be used for minimal residual disease studies. Very recent studies also mention the possibility of using gene expression profiling for prognostication. In conclusion, microarrays may lead to a single platform for leukemia diagnosis with quick and very robust and even cheaper results. Therefore, this new method should be further validated in parallel to the standard work-flow and has to be proven before substituting other methods in the future.
LaboratoriumsMedizin, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 0025-8466
Volume: 28, 06/2004
Pages: 225 - 232