Transcription profiling of human astrocytomas classified as low or high grade and glioma cell line controls (glioblastoma) to to identify genetic differences between the two types

Summary: Astrocytomas can be categorized as either low grade or high grade (glioblastoma). Low grade astrocytomas are not generally aggressive tumors whereas glioblastomas are and in turn have a high mortality rate. The purpose of this experiment is to identify genetic differences between the two types. Hypothesis: There will be a difference in RNA expression between high grade and low grade tumors. Specific Aim: To identify genes which make a tumor high grade or low grade Experiment Overall Design: Comparison of 8 high grade and 12 low grade tumors