Construction of preferential cDNA microarray specialized for human colorectal carcinoma: Molecular sketch of colorectal cancer

cDNA microarray analyses can be used to identify candidate genes that play important roles in human carcinogenesis. To gain insight into the molecular sketch of colorectal cancer, we have constructed cDNA microarrays speciali zed for colorectal cancer, which we named "Colonochip" by selecting genes t hat are expressed in colorectal cancer, normal colonic mucosa, and liver me tastatic cancer tissues. This microarray contained 4608 nonredundant cDNA c lones from over 30,000 cDNA clones derived from the three types of human cD NA libraries, as well as clones from 170 additional conventional major gene s suspected to be involved in colorectal carcinogenesis, according to liter atures. Using this "Colonochip," we were able to identify 59 genes showing twofold or more differential expression between primary cancer and normal c olonic mucosa, potent candidates for diagnosis, and therapy of colorectal c ancer for further studies. (C) 2001 Academic Press.