Researchers at the The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, led by Dr Helena Carén, are using Qlucore Omics Explorer in their research into tumour growth and treatment.
Dr Carén has been using the Qlucore software to analyse methylation data from Illumina gene sequencers. The work aims to identify patterns that could help categorise tumours into different orders of seriousness, and also to predict how the tumour is likely to develop.
'It is often very difficult to find meaningful patterns in very large datasets like these, but Qlucore's software has made it much easier for me to understand the relevance of the data produced during my methylation analysis,' Dr Carén said. 'The 3D graphics, in particular, have been very helpful, since it is easier to spot important patterns when you can view your results as a 3D image, and even rotate the image, if needed, directly on the computer screen.'
The ultimate goal of the methylation study is to identify a set of genes whose methylation profile can accurately determine how aggressive a tumour is, as well as the most effective method of treatment. In the longer term, these studies will also help to identify the specific genes that have contributed to formation of the tumour itself.
Qlucore's Omics Explorer application adds increased creativity to this kind of research, thanks to the software's speed and statistical capability. 'One of the best aspects of Qlucore Omics Explorer is that it has allowed me to manipulate all of my data myself, which means that it wasn't necessary to consult bioinformatics specialists every time I wanted to consider a new theory,' Dr Carén added. 'Plus, not only is it very easy for biologists to identify patterns in the data set very quickly by themselves, it is also easy to produce impressive charts and figures, which is very useful when presenting important findings for publication.'
