Leading researchers describe in step-by-step detail their best state-of-the art molecular techniques for elucidating the biochemical processes associated with human cancer. Among the techniques presented for identifying chromosomal rearrangements are fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), spectral karyotyping (SKY), comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), microsatellite analysis, PCR and RT-PCR, and DNA fingerprinting. Additional methods include SSCP, DGGE, the nonisotopic RNase cleavage assay, and the protein truncation assay and DNA sequencing for identifying mutations. Techniques for the analysis of gene expression include microarray technology and differential display.

Table of Contents

Molecular Analysis of Cancer: An Overview, Ken Mills. Detection of Chromosome Abnormalities in Leukemia Using Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization, Lyndal Kearney, Sabrina Tosi, and Rina J. Jaju. Spectral Karyotyping in Cancer Cytogenetics, Eva Hilgenfeld, Cristina Montagna, Hesed Padilla-Nash, Linda Stapleton, Kerstin Heselmeyer-Haddad, and Thomas Ried. Comparative Genomic Hybridization Analysis, Binaifer R. Balsara, Jianming Pei, and Joseph R. Testa. Detection of Chromosomal Deletions by Microsatellite Analysis, Rachel E. Ibbotson and Martin M. Corcoran. Detection and Quantification of Leukemia-Specific Rearrangements, Andreas Hochhaus. Detection of t(2;5)(p23;q35) Translocation by Long-Range PCR of Genomic DNA, Yunfang Jiang, L. Jeffrey Medeiros, and Andreas H. Sarris. Use of DNA Fingerprinting to Detect Genetic Rearrangements in Human Cancer, Vorapan Sirivatanauksorn, Yongyut Sirivatanauksorn, Arthur B. McKie, and Nicholas R. Lemoine. Mutation Analysis of Large Genomic Regions in Tumor DNA Using Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism: Lessons from the ATM Gene, Igor Vorechovsky. Mutational Analysis of Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressor Genes in Human Cancer Using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis, Per Guldberg, Kirsten Gr nb k, Jesper Worm, Per thor Straten, and Jesper Zeuthen. Detection of Mutations in Human Cancer Using Nonisotopic RNase Cleavage Assay, Marianna Goldrick and James Prescott. Mutational Analysis of the Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Gene in Childhood Myelodysplastic Syndromes Using a Protein Truncation Assay, Lucy Side. Mutation Analysis of Cancer Using Automated Sequencing, Amanda Strickson and Carrie Fidler. Detection of Differentially Expressed Genes in Cancer Using Differential Display, Yineng Fu. Genomewide Gene Expression Analysis Using cDNA Microarrays, Chuang Fong Kong and David Bowtell. Gene Expression Profiling in Cancer Using cDNA Microarrays, Javed Khan, Lao H. Saal, Michael L. Bittner, Yuan Jiang, Gerald C. Gooden, Arthur A. Glatfelter, and Paul S. Meltzer. Wilms Tumor Gene WT1 as a Tumor Marker for Leukemic Blast Cells and Its Role in Leukemogenesis, Haruo Sugiyama. Detection of Aberrant Methylation of the p15INK4B Gene Promoter, Toshiki Uchida. Clonality Studies in Cancer Based on X Chromosome Inactivation Phenomenon, John T. Phelan II and Josef T. Prchal. Telomere Length Changes in Human Cancer, Dominique Broccoli and Andrew K. Godwin. Measurement of Telomerase Activity in Human Hematopoietic Cells and Neoplastic Disorders, Kazuma Ohyashiki and Junko H. Ohyashiki. Index.