Genomic approaches to the pathogenesis of hematologic malignancy

Recent advances in genome technologies and computational biology have facil itated genome-wide views of hematologic malignancy. In particular, comparat ive gene expression methods using DNA microarrays have allowed for the anal ysis of gene expression patterns in both primary patient material and model systems of hematopoietic development. This review provides an overview of the basic technologies underlying these approaches and provides a summary o f recent progress in the genome-wide molecular classification of human acut e leukemias and lymphomas and of initial attempts to define oncogene-mediat ed transcriptional programs using DNA microarrays. Curr Opin Hematol 2001, 81:252-261 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.