OBJECTIVETo get an insight into the molecular mechanisms of diseases development and targeted therapy at the transcriptome level and search for potential therapeutic targets.

METHODSThe present researchers established a cDNA microarray platform and applied component plane presentation integrated self-organizing map (CPP-SOM) to the microarray data obtained from a differentiation model, all trans retinoic acid-induced differentiation in NB4 cells.

RESULTSThe platform included 12630 unique clones, including 9436 known genes. By CPP-SOM, the researchers were able to not only well classify the regulated genes into functionally distinct categories but also depict transcriptional changes throughout the process of the development of diseases or drug treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe platform has proven to be steady and reliable, and the CPP-SOM could serve as an important and good tool for analysis of microarray data.