An integrated analysis of gene expression and chromosome copy number in malignant mesothelioma

间皮瘤是一种侵袭性的石棉相关癌症，每年在全球范围内导致超过20，000人死亡。间皮瘤的特点是暴露于石棉和疾病发展之间的潜伏期长，估计为20至40年。因此，间皮瘤病例的高峰期预计要到2010年才能在澳大利亚出现，因为石棉的使用在20世纪70 -80年代达到了顶峰。在2010年，间皮瘤的死亡将比卵巢癌和黑色素瘤更常见。本研究旨在探讨间皮瘤发生发展过程中的分子缺陷。使用阵列比较基因组杂交，一种技术，它允许正常细胞的DNA与癌细胞的比较，我们将分类癌细胞中的染色体变化，并确定候选基因参与间皮瘤的发展。

Mesothelioma is an aggressive, asbestos related cancer which causes more than 20,000 deaths worldwide per annum. Mesothelioma is characterised by a long latency between exposure to asbestos and development of the disease, estimated to be between 20 and 40 years. As such, the peak number of cases of mesothelioma is not expected in Australia until 2010, as asbestos use reached its peak in the 1970-80's. In 2010, deaths from mesothelioma will be more common than ovarian cancer and melanoma. This study aims to explore the molecular defects that are involved in initiation and progression of mesothelioma. Using array comparative genomic hybridisation, a technique which allows comparison of the DNA of normal cells with that of cancer cells, we will classify chromosomal changes in the cancer cell and identify candidate genes which are involved in mesothelioma development.