Prediction of Likelihood of Cancer Recurrence

Abstract

The present invention provides gene sets the expression of which is important in the diagnosis and/or prognosis of cancer, in particular of breast cancer.

1 .- 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A method for analyzing the expression of genes in a human breast cancer patient, comprising:
 obtaining a fixed, wax-embedded tissue sample from a breast cancer patient;   extracting RNA from the tissue sample;   reverse transcribing RNA transcripts of a set of genes consisting of 15-25 genes, wherein the set includes the following genes: (a) each of Ki-67, STK15, SURV, CCNB1, MYBL2, and STMY3, and (b) at least one reference gene, to produce cDNAs of the RNA transcripts of the set of genes; and   amplifying the cDNAs to produce amplicons from the cDNAs for determination of amplicon.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the amplicon levels have been normalized against an amplicon level of an RNA transcript of at least one reference gene in the tissue sample. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the amplicon levels are threshold cycle (Ct) values. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the breast cancer patient has invasive, ductal carcinoma. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the breast cancer patient has node negative and ER positive breast cancer. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the breast cancer patient has node negative and ER positive breast cancer. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the breast cancer patient has been treated with tamoxifen. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the breast cancer patient has been treated with tamoxifen. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the tissue sample comprises core biopsy or fine needle aspirate cells. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the set of genes consists of 20 genes. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one reference gene comprises GADPH.