Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining whether a treatment is effective in changing the status of a certain set of target cells, such as a tumor, in a patient. This method implies obtaining a sample from a patient after initiation of a treatment, and determining whether said sample comprises an expression product of at least one marker gene. Preferably, said sample is a blood sample. In one aspect, said expression product is expressed by a peripheral blood mononuclear cell. Said marker gene may be a gene involved in the generation, maintenance and/or breakdown of blood vessels (angiogenesis). A method of the invention is very suitable to determine within a few days if a certain treatment against Kaposi's Sarcoma and/or a mesenthelial tumor is successful. Moreover, this method is suitable for determining the presence of angiogenesis and/or tumor cells in a patient.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining whether a treatment is effective in changing the status of a certain set of target cells, such as a tumor, in a patient. This method implies obtaining a sample from a patient after initiation of a treatment, and determining whether said sample comprises an expression product of at least one marker gene. Preferably, said sample is a blood sample. In one aspect, said expression product is expressed by a peripheral blood mononuclear cell. Said marker gene may be a gene involved in the generation, maintenance and/or breakdown of blood vessels (angiogenesis). A method of the invention is very suitable to determine within a few days if a certain treatment against Kaposi's Sarcoma is successful. Moreover, this method is suitable for determining the presence of angiogenesis and/or tumor cells in a patient.

Abstract: Methods for amplifying nucleic acid in a sample comprising providing the sample with a set of primers to enable synthesis of at least one nucleic acid strand complementary to at least part of the nucleic acid, wherein the set of primers comprises between 3-8 random bases, preferably clustered near the 3′ end of each primer in said set of primers. The methods of the invention are useful, for example, for determining whether samples derived from humans, mammals, poultry, or fish comprise nucleic acid of a pathogen. The methods are further suited for typing the pathogen and typing particular variants of said pathogen. The methods are also suited for the elucidation of the gene expression profile or genetic profile of cells.