Identification of genes differentially over-expressed in lung squamous cell carcinoma using combination of cDNA subtraction and microarray analysis

In order to develop effective vaccine products against human cancer, we are interested in identifying genes over-expressed in tumor cells. Through a c ombination of cDNA library subtraction and microarray technology, we identi fied seventeen genes preferentially expressed in lung squamous cell carcino ma, including four novel genes. To date, expression profiles of these genes were confirmed by Northern and/or real-time analysis, and several genes we re also found to be expressed in head and neck squamous tumors. Thus, these combined methods represent a high throughput approach for identifying tumo r specific genes. Furthermore, the report of characterization on these gene s will allow them to be exploited for their diagnostic, prognostic, and the rapeutic potentials including immunotherapy and antibody based anticancer t herapy.