Application of novel genotyping microarray technologies in cancer research

Abstract

Cancer is a genetic disease. The impact of genetic alterations of tumor cells on cancer patient prognosis and treatment has been extensively demonstrated in the past decades. In addition, based on the knowledge of the essential role of genetic alterations in tumor development and progression, a new generation of targeted antitumoral drugs is being developed with outstanding results, providing evidence of the necessity of stratification of cancer patients according to their genetic characteristics. Scientific discoveries resulting from the application of DNA sequencing technologies have supported the continuous development of genotyping technologies, highlighting its impact both to enhance basic biological knowledge and to provide new tools for patient stratification. This chapter will review some of the most common techniques used to analyze human genetic variation, together with the most relevant discoveries in cancer research leading to the introduction of cancer genetics to the clinical setting. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.