MULTIPLE GENE DIAGNOSTIC PROBES AND ASSAY KITS AND METHOD FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF MULTIPLE MARKERS FOR BREAST CANCER PROGNOSIS

摘要

The problem of inadequate broad-range prognostic factors for breast cancer is solved by providing a multi-gene probe for a single-step determination of disease outcome. The 5-genes chosen (HER2, Topo II, NM23-H1, CK19 and MMP9) are known to show altered expression in different breast tumors. The altered expression of any one of them has a similar prognostic significance, with respect to disease-free survival or overall survival. The multi-gene probe is labeled and used to screen a tumor specimen. The signal generated after the assay provides information that has prognostic significance. Since five prognostic markers are simultaneously assessed, a wider variety of breast cancers are covered and disease outcome prediction is improved in a wider population.