Detection of Alternatively Spliced or Processed RNAs in Cancer Using Oligonucleotide Microarray

Deregulation of gene expression plays a pivotal role in tumorigenesis, so the ability to detect RNA alterations is of great value in cancer diagnosis and management. DNA microarrays have been used to measure changes in mRNA or microRNA level, but less often the change of RNA isoforms. Here we appraise the utilization of microarray in detecting alternatively processed RNAs, which have alternative splice forms, retained introns, or altered 3' untranslated regions. We cover the methodology and focus on cancer studies. Recent development in parallel or deep sequencing used in transcriptome analysis is also discussed.