Cancer gene determination and therapeutic screening using signature gene sets

A process for determining the cancerous status of a test cell, comprising determining expression in said test cell of at least one gene that includes one of the nucleotide sequences selected from the sequences of SEQ ID NOS:

• 1-1067, or a nucleotide sequence that is at least 95% identical thereto, and then comparing said expression to expression of said at least one gene in at least one cell known to be non-cancerous whereby a difference in said expression indicates that said cell is cancerous.

A process for determining a cancer initiating, facilitating or suppressing gene comprising the steps of contacting a cell with a cancer modulating agent and determining a change in expression of a gene selected from the group consisting of the gene sequences of SEQ ID NO:

• 1-1067 and thereby identifying said gene as being a cancer initiating or facilitating gene.

A process for treating cancer comprising contacting a cancerous cell with an agent having activity against an expression product encoded by a gene sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

• 1-1067.

A process for determining a cancer initiating, facilitating or suppressing gene in a cancer cell comprising determining a change in expression of a gene sequence selected from the group consisting of the sequences of SEQ ID NO:

• 1-1067.

The process of 23 wherein said change in gene copy number is determined by determining a change in expression of messenger RNA encoded by said gene sequence.

A process for treating cancer comprising inserting into a cancerous cell a gene construct comprising an anti-cancer gene operably linked to a promoter or enhancer element such that expression of said anti-cancer gene causes suppression of said cancer and wherein said promoter or enhancer element is a promoter or enhancer element modulating a gene sequence selected from the group consisting of the sequences of SEQ ID NO:

• 1-1067.

A process for determining functionally related genes comprising contacting one or more gene sequences selected from the group consisting of the sequences of SEQ ID NO:

• 1-1067 with an agent that modulates expression of more than one gene in such group and thereby determining a subset of genes of said group.

A process for screening for an anti-neoplastic agent comprising the steps of:

• (a) exposing cells to a chemical agent to be tested for antineoplastic activity, and
• (b) determining a change in expression of at least one gene of a signature gene set, or a sequence that is at least 95% identical thereto,
• wherein a change in expression is indicative of anti-neoplastic activity.