mRNA microarray analysis in lymphoma and leukemia.

We have reviewed the ability of gene expression microarrays to characterize subgroups of lymphoma and leukemia, identify expression profiles that correlate with known cytogenetic abnormalities, demonstrate that expression profiles can predict prognosis, new proteins identified for diagnosis and followup, and provided new therapeutic targets for chemotherapy. We can expect that new prognostic models will be designed and tested, incorporating the pathologic diagnosis based on morphology, the molecular gene expression profile, and the clinical assessment (e.g. International prognostic index). In addition, the gene expression profiles will be used to generate correlative and ultimately predictive data for response to particular chemotherapeutic regimens. Translation for clinical usage is likely in a diagnostic fashion in both lymphoma and leukemia.