Figure 1.

Marker panel employed for standardized competitive RT-PCR analysis. A total of 70 genes involved in eight broad pathways commonly deregulated in cancer were chosen for this study. The primary effector pathways of tumorigenesis encompass apoptosis, cell cycle, gene regulation, cell growth regulation and anti-oxidation, and are comprised of 57 genes. There is a significant overlap of markers among the first three pathways. The secondary effector pathways include signal transduction, angiogenesis and invasion, and are comprised of 13 genes. All the listed genes exert stimulatory, inhibitory and/or regulatory effects on their respective pathway(s).