Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for establishing a composite marker profile for a sample derived from an individual suspected having a neoplastic condition. A composite marker profile of the invention allows for identification of prognostically and therapeutically relevant subgroups of neoplastic conditions and prediction of the clinical course of an individual. The methods of the invention provide tools useful in choosing a therapy for an individual afflicted with a neoplastic condition, including methods for assigning a risk group, methods of predicting an increased risk of relapse, methods of predicting an increased risk of developing secondary complications, methods of choosing a therapy for an individual, methods of determining the efficacy of a therapy in an individual, and methods of determining the prognosis for an individual.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for preparation of a biological sample for measurement of protein epitopes that allows for the preservation of intracellular protein epitopes and detection of signal transduction pathways based on the ability to capture transient activation states of the epitopes. The method provided by the invention allows for the rapid fixation of biological samples containing red blood cells, to ensure that epitopes of signal transduction molecules and other intracellular protein epitopes are preserved in the active state. The method of the invention further allows for lysis of red blood cells, thereby making it a useful method for cytometric analysis of biological samples, including, for example, whole blood, bone marrow aspirates, peritoneal fluids, and other red blood cell containing samples. The invention also provides a method to recover or “unmask” epitopes on intracellular antigens that have been made inaccessible by the cross linking fixative necessary to fix the sample.