Pitfalls in the Use of DNA Microarray Data for Diagnostic and Prognostic Classification

Many studies profiling gene expression in human cancers have been completed and are in progress. Some studies (19-22) attempt to build predictors of patient prognosis and response to therapy by using gene expression profiles. Because it is likely that gene expression profiles will provide information that will affect clinical decision making, such profiling studies must be performed with statistical rigor and be reported clearly and with unbiased statistics.