article by Dr. RL McInnes, Agilent Technologies, Australia
Genomic instability underlies cancer and Copy Number Aberrations (CNA s) are known to underpin
many developmental disorders. Combined with microarray-based tools to
interrogate changes in gene expression, promoter occupancy, chromatin
modifications and DNA methylation, researchers can now very thoroughly
characterize the molecular-genetic basis of disease.
Genomic instability underlies Cancer 
Understanding the chromosomal changes that cancer cells undergo during development is key to
advancing cancer research. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) is a
technique for studying such changes in cancer cells. Agilent is
contributing to this area of research through major enhancements to its
oligonucleotide microarray-based CGH (aCGH) platform. New capabilities
include arrays with 244 thousand features, algorithms that detect
aberrations, intuitive software for visualisation, ability to integrate
gene expression and aCGH data, and the flexibility to customize the
content at no up-front cost onto a variety of microarray formats.
Flexibility enables hypothesis driven research
Agilent’s
enhanced aCGH solution will allow scientists to move easily from
scanning the entire genome to pinpointing chromosomal changes that were
difficult or impossible to detect using other platforms," said Mike
Booth, general manager of Agilent’s Gene Expression Group. "Our
technology and services provide cancer researchers with the robustness,
flexibility, sensitivity and reproducibility they need to characterize
genomic alterations associated with tumour development, growth and
response to particular therapies."
Flexibility enables hypothesis driven research. Agilent s eArray
web portal provides the tools to customise microarray content using
probe sequences from Agilent s database in addition to probes that are
uploaded by customers. Available formats include 244k for high density
and 4x44k for economy and focus. Incredible flexibility!
Agilent s arrays for aCGH require 500ng gDNA (or 100ng with
amplification) to detect single copy changes, even in heterogeneous
samples. The procedure does not use complexity reduction and has been
shown to reliably detect copy number aberrations in genomic regions
where SNP-based short oligo array technologies perform poorly.
Suggested Reading
Open Genomics - a resource for microarray-based genomics
(www.opengenomics.com)
Agilent enhances breakthrough CGH solution for cancer research
(http://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/features/2005aug22_cgh.html)
Agilent Technologies obtains multicolor, CGH microarray licenses from Abbott Molecular
(http://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/presrel/2006/30aug-ca06043.html)
Agilent Technologies introduces HD-CGH custom microarrays for pinpointing cancer-related genetic
Abnormalities
(http://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/presrel/2006/30aug-ca06043.html)
Agilent Technologies launches next generation high-resolution microarray platform
for identifying genetic abnormalities
(http://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/presrel/2006/30aug-ca06043.html)
