What Challenges Exist in Analyzing Gene Co-Expression Networks in Cancer?
Several challenges complicate the analysis of gene co-expression networks in cancer: - Heterogeneity: Cancer is highly heterogeneous, both within and between tumors, making it difficult to identify consistent co-expression patterns. - Data Quality: Variability in data quality and preprocessing methods can impact the reliability of co-expression networks. - Dynamic Changes: Gene expression can change dynamically during cancer progression, requiring time-series data to capture these changes accurately. - Complexity: The sheer complexity of biological networks and the potential for numerous indirect interactions can make interpretation challenging.