Target Discovery and Validation Reviews and Protocols

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

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2. Main Approaches to Target Discovery and Validation

   • Mouldy Sioud

   Pages 1-12

3. Bioinformatics Approaches to Cancer Gene Discovery

   • Ramaswamy Narayanan

   Pages 13-31

4. Analysis of Gene Networks for Drug Target Discovery and Validation

   • Seiya Imoto, Yoshinori Tamada, Christopher J. Savoie, Satoru Miyanoaa

   Pages 33-56

5. Target Discovery and Validation in Pancreatic Cancer

   • Robert M. Beaty, Mads Gronborg, Jonathan R. Pollack, Anirban Maitra

   Pages 57-89

6. Molecular Classification of Breast Tumors

   • Therese Sørlie

   Pages 91-114

7. Discovery of Differentially Expressed Genes

   • Øystein Røsok, Mouldy Sioud

   Pages 115-129

8. Genome-Wide Screening by Using Small-Interfering RNA-Expression Libraries

   • Sahohime Matsumoto, Makoto Miyagishi, Kazunari Taira

   Pages 131-142

9. Hammerhead Ribozyme-Based Target Discovery

   • Masayuki Sano, Kazunari Taira

   Pages 143-153

10. Production of siRNA and cDNA-Transfected Cell Arrays on Noncoated Chambered Coverglass for High-Content Screening Microscopy in Living Cells

    • Holger Erfle, Rainer Pepperkok

    Pages 155-161

11. Transgenic Animal Models in Biomedical Research

    • Louis-Marie Houdebine

    Pages 163-202

12. Keratin Transgenic and Knockout Mice

    • Preethi Vijayaraj, Goran Söhl, Thomas M. Magin

    Pages 203-251

13. The HUVEC/Matrigel Assay

    • Dag K. Skovseth, Axel M. Küchler, Guttorm Haraldsen

    Pages 253-268

14. A Murine Model for Studying Hematopoiesis and Immunity in Heart Failure

    • Per Ole Iversen, Dag R. Sørensen

    Pages 269-275

15. An Overview of the Immune System and Technical Advances in Tumor Antigen Discovery and Validation

    • Mouldy Sioud

    Pages 277-318

16. Potential Target Antigens for Immunotherapy Identified by Serological Expression Cloning (SEREX)

    • Dirk Jäger

    Pages 319-326

17. Identification of Tumor Antigens by Using Proteomics

    • François Le Naour

    Pages 327-334

18. Protein Arrays

    • Lina Cekaite, Eivind Hovig, Mouldy Sioud

    Pages 335-348

19. Back Matter

    Pages 349-354

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Target discovery is a field that has existed for several years but is so vibrant today because of the recent progress in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of many human diseases and the technical advances in target identification and validation. More sophisticated gene profiling technologies, such as DNA microarrays and serial analysis of gene expression, permit rapid identification of lead targets. Moreover, analysis of gene networks in living organisms allows the identification of target genes that operate in defined physiological pathways. With the sequencing of several genomes completed and the rapidly growing gene expression databases, there is now greater impetus than ever before for in silico discovery of therapeutic targets. Also, recent advances in genetic technologies have increased our ability to generate mouse models for human diseases. The implications of these genetically modified animals in drug development are several, including identification of new drug targets, predicting efficacy, and uncovering possible side effects. Together, these recent technical advances should allow researchers to make the most informed choice early and advance the chosen targets toward clinical studies. Regarding cancers, any difference between a cancer and a normal cell could potentially be exploited as a therapeutic target. The hope is that drugs targeting specific constituents or pathways in cancer cells will provide more effective therapy, either alone or in combination with other currently used anticancer drugs. In addition to drug targets, identifying new target antigens remains as much of a challenge as improving tumor vaccines already in the clinic.

• DNA
• Microarray
• Proteomics
• angiogenesis
• bioinformatics
• classification
• gene expression
• genes
• molecular mechanisms
• translation

From the reviews:

"Volume 1 focuses on novel and innovative techniques, and presents the most up-to-date protocols available for maximizing the likelihood of achieving target-selective inhibition in vivo while minimizing side effects. … Cancer researchers will find tremendous value in the molecular classification of breast cancers and the review of protocols for tumor antigens and cancer vaccines. … provide a thorough review of the most cutting-edge methods available for each step in drug target identification, validation, and clinical application." (Anticancer Research, Vol. 27, May, 2007)

"Review current methods for drug target discovery and validation. … Volume 1 is focused on drug target and biomarker discovery. … the chapters are generally well written and clear, and provide extensive references to the current literature. … Overall … provide useful overviews that would provide entry into this field. Novice and more experienced researchers … would find useful information … ." (Jonathan B. Chaires, ChemMedChem, Issue 3, 2008)

• Department of Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

  Mouldy Sioud

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