The U. S. National Cancer Institute's research lays an argument on gene expression-based prognostic signatures in lung cancer and suggests that the signatures are not yet ready for prime time.

The researchers believe that there are very bleak signs that any are ready to be used in medical practice. They also said that the present studies have key problems.

The institute's Biometric researches reviewed that there were about 16 studies from 2002 to 2009, which observed the use of gene expression-based prognostic signatures for non-small-cell lung cancer

The review reported flaw in the analysis design and validation of data from the study.

None of the studies could explain how the gene expression signature is advantageous and a development over known risk factors.

According to a report from the National Cancer Institute that was published in the Archives on Internal Medicine younger people frequently prefer the Internet over their physician when researching cancer and treatments.

However, researchers set out for a new study to resolve if cancer centers that recommend complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), such as massage therapy, do a good job of presenting information about CAM on their websites.