METHODS FOR EVALUATING LUNG CANCER STATUS

1 . A method of determining the likelihood that a subject has lung cancer, the method comprising

subjecting a biological sample obtained from a subject to a gene expression analysis, wherein the gene expression analysis comprises

(a) determining mRNA expression levels in the biological sample of one or more informative-genes that relate to lung cancer status, and

(b) determining mRNA expression levels in the biological sample of one or more genomic correlate genes that relate to one or more self-reportable characteristics of the subject; and

determining a lung cancer risk-score, based on the expression levels determined in (a) and (b), that is indicative of the likelihood that the subject has lung cancer.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more self-reportable characteristics of the subject are selected from: smoking pack years, smoking status, age and gender.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the informative-genes are selected from Table 11.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the informative-genes comprise at least two genes selected from the set of genes identified as:

(i) cluster 1 in Table 11;

(ii) cluster 2 in Table 11;

(iii) cluster 3 in Table 11;

(iv) cluster 4 in Table 11;

(v) cluster 5 in Table 11;

(vi) cluster 6 in Table 11;

(vii) cluster 7 in Table 11;

(viii) cluster 8 in Table 11;

(ix) cluster 9 in Table 11; and/or

(x) cluster 10 in Table 11; and

wherein the genes optionally comprise MYOT.

5 .- 16 . (canceled)

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lung cancer-risk score is determined according to a model having a Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of (i) greater than 90% for ruling out lung cancer in an intended use population and/or (ii) greater than 85% for subjects diagnosed with COPD.

18 . (canceled)

19 . A method comprising:

subjecting a biological sample obtained from a subject to a gene expression analysis, wherein the gene expression analysis comprises determining mRNA expression levels in the biological sample of at least 2 to at least 10 genes selected from Table 11 or at least 2 to at least 10 genes selected from Table 26; and

(i) determining the likelihood that the subject has lung cancer by determining a statistical significance on the mRNA expression levels; or

(ii) determining a treatment course for the subject based on the expression levels.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of determining the statistical significance comprises transforming the expression levels into a lung cancer risk-score that is indicative of the likelihood that the subject has lung cancer.

21 .- 22 . (canceled)

23 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the expression levels are weighted by their relative contribution to predicting increased likelihood of having lung cancer

24 . (canceled)

25 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the treatment course is determined based on a lung cancer risk-score derived from the expression levels.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the subject is identified as either: (i) a candidate for a lung cancer therapy and/or an invasive lung procedure based on a lung cancer risk-score that indicates the subject has a relatively high likelihood of having lung cancer; or (ii) not a candidate for a lung cancer therapy or an invasive lung procedure based on a lung cancer risk-score that indicates the subject has a relatively low likelihood of having lung cancer.

27 . (canceled)

28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the invasive lung procedure is a transthoracic needle aspiration, mediastinoscopy or thoracotomy.

29 .- 31 . (canceled)

32 . The method of claim 19 ,

wherein the biological sample is obtained from the respiratory epithelium of the subject;

wherein the biological sample is optionally obtained using bronchial brushings, broncho-alveolar lavage, or a bronchial biopsy;

wherein, optionally, the subject exhibits one or more symptoms of lung cancer and/or has a lesion that is observable by computer-aided tomography or chest X-ray; and

optionally, wherein, prior to subjecting the biological sample to the gene expression analysis, the subject has not been diagnosed with primary lung cancer.

33 .- 36 . (canceled)

37 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the genes comprise at least two genes selected from the set of genes identified as:

(i) cluster 1 in Table 11;

(ii) cluster 2 in Table 11;

(iii) cluster 3 in Table 11;

(iv) cluster 4 in Table 11;

(v) cluster 5 in Table 11;

(vi) cluster 6 in Table 11;

(vii) cluster 7 in Table 11;

(viii) cluster 8 in Table 11;

(ix) cluster 9 in Table 11; and/or

(x) cluster 10 in Table 11; and

wherein the genes optionally comprise MYOT.

38 .- 48 . (canceled)

49 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the gene expression analysis comprises determining the expression levels of at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, or at least 15 genes selected from Table 11; wherein, optionally, the expression levels are determined using a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, a bead-based nucleic acid detection assay or a oligonucleotide array assay.

50 .- 52 . (canceled)

53 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the lung cancer is a adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, small cell cancer or non-small cell cancer.

54 .- 58 . (canceled)

59 . A computer implemented method for processing genomic information, the method comprising:

obtaining data representing expression levels in a biological sample of at least 2 to at least 10 genes selected from Table 11, wherein the biological sample was obtained from a subject; and using the expression levels to assist in determining the likelihood that the subject has lung cancel;

wherein, optionally, the step of determining comprises calculating a risk-score indicative of the likelihood that the subject has lung cancer; wherein calculating the risk-score involves determining the combination of weighted expression levels, wherein the expression levels are weighted by their relative contribution to predicting increased likelihood of having lung cancer.

60 .- 77 . (canceled)

78 . A composition consisting essentially of at least 1-10 nucleic acid probes, wherein each of the at least 1 to at least 10 nucleic acids probes specifically hybridizes with an mRNA expressed from a different gene selected from the genes of Table 11.

79 . (canceled)

80 . The composition of claim 78 , wherein the genes comprise at least two genes selected from the set of genes identified as:

(i) cluster 1 in Table 11;

(ii) cluster 2 in Table 11;

(iii) cluster 3 in Table 11;

(iv) cluster 4 in Table 11;

(v) cluster 5 in Table 11;

(vi) cluster 6 in Table 11;

(vii) cluster 7 in Table 11;

(viii) cluster 8 in Table 11;

(ix) cluster 9 in Table 11; and/or

(x) cluster 10 in Table 11; and

wherein the genes optionally comprise MYOT.

81 .- 97 . (canceled)

98 . A kit comprising at least one container or package housing the composition of claim 78 .

99 .- 135 . (canceled)

136 . A method of determining the likelihood that a subject has lung cancer, the method comprising

subjecting a biological sample obtained from a subject to a gene expression analysis, wherein the gene expression analysis comprises

(a) measuring cDNA levels of one or more informative-genes that relate to lung cancer status, and

(b) measuring cDNA levels of one or more genomic correlate genes that relate to one or more self-reportable characteristics of the subject; and

determining a lung cancer risk-score, based on the cDNA levels determined in (a) and (b), that is indicative of the likelihood that the subject has lung cancer;

wherein the cDNA is prepared from mRNA from the biological sample.

137 .- 138 . (canceled)