MicroRNA array normalization: An evaluation using a randomized dataset as the benchmark Journal Article


Authors: Qin, L. X.; Zhou, Q.
Article Title: MicroRNA array normalization: An evaluation using a randomized dataset as the benchmark
Abstract: MicroRNA arrays possess a number of unique data features that challenge the assumption key to many normalization methods. We assessed the performance of existing normalization methods using two microRNA array datasets derived from the same set of tumor samples: one dataset was generated using a blocked randomization design when assigning arrays to samples and hence was free of confounding array effects; the second dataset was generated without blocking or randomization and exhibited array effects. The randomized dataset was assessed for differential expression between two tumor groups and treated as the benchmark. The non-randomized dataset was assessed for differential expression after normalization and compared against the benchmark. Normalization improved the true positive rate significantly in the non-randomized data but still possessed a false discovery rate as high as 50%. Adding a batch adjustment step before normalization further reduced the number of false positive markers while maintaining a similar number of true positive markers, which resulted in a false discovery rate of 32% to 48%, depending on the specific normalization method. We concluded the paper with some insights on possible causes of false discoveries to shed light on how to improve normalization for microRNA arrays. © 2014 Qin, Zhou.
Journal Title: PLoS ONE
Volume: 9
Issue: 6
ISSN: 1932-6203
Publisher: Public Library of Science  
Date Published: 2014-06-06
Start Page: e98879
Language: English
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098879
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC4048305
PUBMED: 24905456
DOI/URL:
Notes: PLoS ONE -- Export Date: 8 July 2014 -- CODEN: POLNC -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Qin Zhou
    254 Zhou
  2. Li-Xuan Qin
    191 Qin