Statistics and Informatics in Molecular Cancer Research

Carsten Wiuf, Claus L. Andersen

OUP Oxford, Jun 18, 2009 - Mathematics - 208 pages

Molecular understanding of cancer and cancer progression is at the forefront of many research programs today. High-throughput array technologies and other modern molecular techniques produce a wealth of molecular data about the structure, and function of cells, tissues, and organisms. Correctly analyzed and interpreted these data hold the promise of bringing new markers for prognostic and diagnostic use, for new treatment schemes, and of gaining new biological insight into theevolution of cancer and its molecular, pathological, and clinical consequences.Aimed at graduates and researchers, this book discusses novel advances in informatics and statistics in molecular cancer research. Through eight chapters from carefully chosen experts it brings the reader up to date with specific topics in cancer research, how the topics give rise to development of new informatics and statistics tools, and how the tools can be applied. The focus of the book is to give the reader an understanding of key concepts and tools, rather than focusing on technicalissues.A main theme is the extensive use of array technologies in modern cancer research - gene expression and exon arrays, SNP and copy number arrays, and methylation arrays - to derive quantitative and qualitative statements about cancer, its progression and aetiology, and to understand how these technologies on one hand allow us learn about cancer tissue as a complex system and on the other hand allow us to pinpoint key genes and events as crucial for the development of the disease.

About the author

Carsten Wiuf obtained his PhD in mathematical biology from the University of Aarhus in 1998. Afterwards he spent 4 years in Oxford at the Departmetn of Statistics before joining a biotech company in Boston. In 2003 he became Professor of Bioinformatics at the University of Aarhus. He has co-authored the book Gene Genealogies, Variation and Evolution (OUP).

Claus L. Andersen earned his PhD in cancer biology from the University of Aarhus in 2002. In 2002, he became an assistant professor at the University of Aarhus and later in 2005 an associate professor. Today he is heading the colorectal cancer research group at the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Aarhus University Hospital.

Both have worked on informatics approaches to the analysis of molecular cancer data and have practical as well as theoretical experience with development of bioinformatics and statistical methods for analysis of molecular data.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Statistics and Informatics in Molecular Cancer Research
• Editors: Carsten Wiuf, Claus L. Andersen
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: OUP Oxford, 2009
• ISBN: 0199532877, 9780199532872
• Length: 208 pages
• Subjects: Mathematics / Probability & Statistics / General; Medical / Epidemiology; Medical / Oncology; Medical / Research