ROCK: a breast cancer functional genomics resource

Abstract

The clinical and pathological heterogeneity of breast cancer has instigated efforts to stratify breast cancer sub-types according to molecular profiles. These profiling efforts are now being augmented by large-scale functional screening of breast tumour cell lines, using approaches such as RNA interference. We have developed ROCK ( rock.icr.ac.uk ) to provide a unique, publicly accessible resource for the integration of breast cancer functional and molecular profiling datasets. ROCK provides a simple online interface for the navigation and cross-correlation of gene expression, aCGH and RNAi screen data. It enables the interrogation of gene lists in the context of statistically analysed functional genomic datasets, interaction networks, pathways, GO terms, mutations and drug targets. The interface also provides interactive visualisations of datasets and interaction networks. ROCK collates data from a wealth of breast cancer molecular profiling and functional screening studies into a single portal, where analysed and annotated results can be accessed at the level of a gene, sample or study. We believe that portals such as ROCK will not only afford researchers rapid access to profiling data, but also aid the integration of different data types, thus enhancing the discovery of novel targets and biomarkers for breast cancer.