Genomic investigation of etiologic heterogeneity: methodologic challenges.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The etiologic heterogeneity of cancer has traditionally been investigated by comparing risk factor frequencies within candidate sub-types, defined for example by histology or by distinct tumor markers of interest. Increasingly tumors are being profiled for molecular features much more extensively. This greatly expands the opportunities for defining distinct sub-types. In this article we describe an exploratory analysis of the etiologic heterogeneity of clear cell kidney cancer. Data are available on the primary known risk factors for kidney cancer, while the tumors are characterized on a genome-wide basis using expression, methylation, copy number and mutational profiles.

Methods

We use a novel clustering strategy to identify sub-types. This is accomplished indepe

SUBMITTER: Begg CB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4292824 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature