DIAGNOSIS OF LYMPH NODE INVOLVEMENT IN RECTAL CANCER

摘要

A method of determining the risk that a subject that has been diagnosed with rectal cancer has stage III rectal cancer is described. The method includes determining the expression levels of a plurality of differentially expressed genes in a rectal cancer sample from the subject, comparing the expression levels of the plurality of genes with the corresponding controls, and characterizing the subject as having an increased risk of having stage III rectal cancer if the expression levels of the genes are increased or decreased compared to the corresponding control values. The inventor has determined which genes are expressed at higher or lower levels by a subject who has stage III rectal cancer. Microarrays and kits for staging subjects are also provided.