International Journal of Cancer
Early Detection and Diagnosis

Implementation of a novel microarray-based diagnostic test for cancer of unknown primary

Ryan K. van Laar, Xiao-Jun Ma, Daphne de Jong, Diederik Wehkamp, Arno N. Floore, Marc O. Warmoes, Iris Simon, Wilson Wang, Mark Erlander, Laura J. van’t Veer, Annuska M. Glas

Abstract:

Patients with carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) present with metastatic disease for which the primary site cannot be found, despite extensive standard investigation. Here, we describe the development and implementation of the first clinically available microarray-based test for this cancer type (CUPPrint), based on 633 individual tumors representing 30 carcinoma and 17 noncarcinoma classes.

Tissue of origin prediction for either fresh frozen or paraffin-embedded tumor samples is achieved with the use of a custom 8-pack 1.9k microarray and robust classification algorithm. An expression profile of 495 genes was used to predict tumor origin by applying a k-nearest neighbor algorithm. Internal cross-validation and analysis of an independent, previously published, 229-sample dataset revealed that clinically informative predictions were made for up to 94% of samples analyzed. Analysis of 13 previously published CUP specimens yielded predicted tumor origins that supported the clinical suspicion in 12 cases (92%).

Microarray profiling presents a promising tool to assist in the identification of the primary tumor and might direct a more tailored treatment for CUP patients. © 2009 UICC

Received: 27 August 2008; Accepted: 20 March 2009 [yes, 7 months!]

[Link]

It just never ends…

Some pics below taken with new iPhone 3GS camera. Evidently my case covers the camera lens in a rather annoying way. Live and learn…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanvanlaar/sets/72157620703861590/show/

Quite a fun day, although we only stayed for about 2 of the 5hrs the parade lasts for. Some very eye-opening fashion choices and breathtaking displays of confidence.

Nice to see the support of so many politicians and other traditionally-non-supportive groups. The times they are a-changin!

Despite all the weirdness, I still believe he was a musical genius. He helped me survive my teen years, inspired a lot of dancefloor moves and unfortunate (for people who knew me) fashion choices.

I can’t quite believe it yet. My heart goes out to his family.

[Update]

If you haven’t already read these articles and posts, please do:

• Lefsetz Letter
• Depak Chopra
• Lisa Maria Presley

A certain East-Village-dwelling Brazilian recently informed me of this NY-based DJ’s website:

Joe Caro’s Blog & Podcast

Today’s Best Dance Music Continuously Mixed by Joe Caro

You can download 1-2hr mixes (mp3) of highly-fantastic dance/workout/homeless-person-on-subway-drowning-out music.

This is the tracklist of the ‘Dangerous‘ mix I’m currently bopping away to at my desk.

Tracklist: Leona Lewis- Bleeding Love (Moto Blanco Vocal Mix) Timbaland Ft. One Republic- Apologize (Jims Club Mix) Altar Ft. Jeanie Tracy- Everybody Up (Rosabel Peak Hour Mix) Until The End Of Time/Jonathan Peters Club mixJustin Timberlake featuring Beyonce D.O.N.S. & DBN ft Kadoc – The Nighttrain (Nick Terranova Remix) Ronen Mizrahi- Set U Free (Ronen Mizrahi Original Mix) Piece Of Me (Junior Vasquez & Johnny Vicious Club)Britney Spears Fragma – Toca’s Miracle (Deadmau5 Instrumental Inpetto 2008 Mix) We Belong Together – AcapellaMariah Carey Change (Original Mix)Offer Nissim Free My Love (The Cube Guys Mix)Suzanne Palmer Big Girls Don’t Cry (Hommer Remix)Fergie Maya- I’m In Love (Offer Nissim Original Mix) Janet Jackson- Feedback (Ralphi Rosario Sexy Vox Mix) Leana- Pack Your Bags (Ralphi Rosario Vox Mix)

“Dangerous” in the sense that I’m about to rip my shirt off and and fire up the smoke machine! Or at least open a DNA storage freezer and dance in the vapor whilst pretending to look for something!

Britney and Framga together at last.. sigh… and the Janet mix at the end is superb.

I have been mildly impressed with the ‘NO H8′ campaign, featuring one of my favorite public figures and Twitter-friends, Megan McCain.

And then I stumbled across this picture:

Holy crap look at that helmet!

Any cause involving that many diamantes has my full, unwavering, checkbook-opening, blog-posting, facebook-spamming support. Click on the larger version for the full dazzle.

I’m seriously considering getting a motorbike now, purely to justify owning this helmet. Can you imagine how hilarious/fabulous this would look on the highway?

Who cares if other drivers are temporarily blinded by thousands of beams of light emanating from my head? They should be grateful to witness such art in motion.

As I’ve always said when it comes to fashion; sparkle justifies carnage.

http://www.noh8campaign.com/