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Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Heterogeneity Mapping of Protein Expression in Tumors using Quantitative Immunofluorescence
Published on: October 25, 2011
Cancer expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) can be determined from heterogeneous tumor gene expression data by
Paul Geeleher1,2, Aritro Nath2,3, Fan Wang2,4
1Section of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Abstract:
Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) identified using tumor gene expression data could affect gene expression in cancer cells, tumor-associated normal cells, or both. Here, we have demonstrated a method to identify eQTLs affecting expression in cancer cells by modeling the statistical interaction between genotype and tumor purity. Only one third of breast cancer risk variants, identified as eQTLs from a conventional analysis, could be confidently attributed to cancer cells. The remaining variants could affect cells of the tumor microenvironment, such as immune cells and fibroblasts. Deconvolution of tumor eQTLs will help determine how inherited polymorphisms influence cancer risk, development, and treatment response.
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