Diagnostic Studies - (Mar/21/2011 )

I'm proposing to study polymorphisms in breast cancer antigens. Do any of you think I can do this study by blood samples.... where I can check out the polymorphisms in that particular antigen coding gene eg- BRCA gene.... can this be used for diagnostic purpose?

Or do you people think I need to be tissue specific for the identification of polymorphism?

Polymorphisms are DNA encoded, so any cell source will do.

InduS on Mon Mar 21 16:43:06 2011 said:

The differences(such as gene expression, DNA methylation, etc.) found in a non-target tissue, can be used as biomarkers in a disease. I think you can discover SNPs in peripheral blood as biomarkers of breast cancer. for instance: 2011, Marsit CJ _DNA methylation array analysis identifies profiles of blood-derived DNA methylation associated with bladder cancer.