Abstract: The invention relates to methods and compositions for the prediction, diagnosis, prognosis, prevention and treatment of neoplastic disease. Neoplastic disease is often caused by chromosomal rearrangements which lead to over- or underexpression of the rearranged genes. The invention discloses genes which are overexpressed in neoplastic tissue and are useful as diagnostic markers and targets for treatment. Methods are disclosed for predicting, diagnosing and prognosing as well as preventing and treating neoplastic disease.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method (i) for detecting a carcinoma, especially an adenocarcinoma, preferably a gastrointestinal carcinoma and more preferably a colorectal carcinoma, (ii) for predicting metastases, preferably liver metastases, depending on a primary colon carcinoma and/or (iii) for predicting the response of metastases to a 5-fluorouracil-containing chemotherapy. The inventive method comprises determining a gene expression profile of 120 marker genes or a selection thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides novel compositions, methods and uses, for the prediction, diagnosis, prognosis, prevention and treatment of malignant neoplasia and cancer. The invention further relates to genes that are differentially expressed in tissue of cancer patients versus those of normal “healthy” tissue. Differentially expressed genes for the identification of patients which are likely to respond to chemotherapy are also provided. The present invention relates to methods for prognosis the prediction of therapeutic success in cancer therapy. In a preferred embodiment of the invention it relates to methods for prediction of therapeutic success of combinations of signal transduction inhibitors, therapeutic antibodies, radio- and chemotherapy. The methods of the invention are based on determination of expression levels of 48 human genes which are differentially expressed prior to the onset of anti-cancer chemotherapy.

Abstract: Provided is a kinetic PCR (“kPCR”) assay for determining gene copy number of a target gene located on chromosome 17. The kPCR assay uses the MMP-28 gene located at the 17q11.2-17q12 loci as a control and thus, is capable of detecting gene copy number of any gene on chromosome 17 in both singleplex and multiplex format without the need for a standard curve. The kPCR assay is useful for determining the gene copy number of the HER2/neu gene located at loci 17q12-17q21.32, which is a requirement for determining if a breast cancer patient is a candidate for anti-HER2/neu gene therapy.