Panel of RNA transcripts (RNA panel)

A panel of RNA transcripts is a collection of specific RNA molecules, typically messenger RNAs (mRNAs), used to measure the expression levels of multiple genes simultaneously to characterize a biological state or disease (National Cancer Institute, 2023). These panels serve as transcriptomic signatures that provide diagnostic, prognostic, or predictive information, particularly in oncology, where they help determine the risk of recurrence or the likelihood of response to specific therapies (Nature Reviews Genetics, 2018). While the individual components of a panel may include transcripts of druggable proteins, the panel itself is categorized as a biomarker or diagnostic tool rather than a direct therapeutic target (Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2020). Common examples include the 21-gene recurrence score for breast cancer or various multi-gene assays used in personalized medicine to tailor treatment to a patient's specific molecular profile. Because these panels measure the functional output of genomic activity, they offer a more dynamic and phenotypic view of cellular function than DNA sequencing alone (PubMed, 2021).

Other names

Gene expression profileTranscriptomic signatureRNA-seq panelMultigene assayGene expression signatureTranscriptome profile

Not applicable as a therapeutic target; functions as a diagnostic, prognostic, or predictive biomarker tool to guide clinical decision-making.