Genome-wide association studies of cancer.
Genome-wide association studies provide a new and powerful approach to investigate the effect of inherited genetic variation on the risk of human disease. These studies rely on high throughput DNA microarray technology to genotype hundreds of thousands of genetic variants across the human genome. The first genome-wide association studies have identified previously unknown genetic risk factors that influence a range of diseases, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, myocardial infarction, age-related macular degeneration, diabetes, Crohn's disease and obesity. Many more studies are currently underway, including a number that will focus on other cancers (e.g., colorectal). Here we discuss the major issues involved in conducting genome-wide association studies and how these studies can be used to examine cancer phenotypes.
University of California, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics , San Francisco, CA 94143-0794, USA. eric.jorgenson@ucsf.edu
Eric
E
Jorgenson
John S
JS
Witte
D002908:Chronic Disease; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005828:Genetics, Population; D015894:Genome, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*