1. Checking Up On Genes
DNA Microarray Lab

2. Your Role You are oncologists specializing in breast cancer
Use DNA microarray analysis on two patients (Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown)
Determine their gene expression profile
Use each patient’s profile to decide on her course of treatment (personalized medicine)

3. DNA Microarrays
Used to determine the expression levels of a few or thousands of genes
Collect cancerous tissue samples
mRNA is isolated and used to make cDNA
Microarray: collection of microscopic spots of DNA attached to glass, plastic or silicon chip
cDNA is applied to microarray and scanned to determine gene expression levels

5. Your Patients Patient 1: Mrs. Jones 46-year-old African-American woman
No family history of breast cancer
Patient 2: Mrs. Brown
63-year-old Caucasian woman
History of breast cancer on mother’s side of the family

6. Genes Being Tested
ESR-1, ABC-C6, BCL2, DPYPD, TOP2A, GSTP1, CDC2, GATA3, DHFR, ERB-B2, ABC-B2, MT1, TGFB3, ANXA, GRB7

7. DNA Microarray Results
Dark pink: gene is strongly expressed (+)
Light pink: gene is strongly repressed (-)
Clear: neither strongly expressed nor repressed (0)

8. Cancer Therapy Options
Interpret and record your results.
Use the results of your microarray analysis to determine which therapies might be indicated for each patient.