Patent ID: 6936417

Claim:
A method to identify a set of genes useful for diagnosing, predicting outcome, or prescribing treatment of a bladder cancer comprising: determining a first pattern of expression of one or more genes in a first bladder tissue sample; determining a second pattern of expression of the one or more genes in a second bladder tissue sample, wherein the first bladder tissue sample is a normal urothelium sample or an earlier stage or lower grade of bladder tumor than the second bladder tissue sample; comparing the first pattern of expression to the second pattern of expression to identify a first set of genes whose expression is increased or decreased in the second bladder tissue sample relative to the first bladder tissue sample; removing from the first set of genes those genes which are expressed in submucosal, smooth muscle or connective tissue to produce a second set of genes, wherein measurement of expression of the second set of genes can be used for diagnosing, predicting outcome, or prescribing treatment of a bladder cancer.