Genetic cancer syndromes and large-scale gene expression analysis: applications in surgical oncology

The last decade of the 20th century was characterized by an explosion in ge netic discoveries. The Human Genome Project and technical advances have mad e it possible to unravel many genetic abnormalities underlying cancer. Many genes responsible for inherited cancer syndromes have been identified and diagnostic tests are readily available. The clinical implications of these tests are currently under debate. Large-scale gene expression analysis enab les simultaneous monitoring of expression of thousands of genes, in vitro a nd in vivo. The identification of high risk patients and drug responsivenes s, can be studied within the framework of complex molecular networks. This article will focus on the possibilities for surgical oncology. (C) 2001 Har court Publishers Ltd.