Liposarcomas (LPS) are a heterogeneous group of tumours that show features of adipocyte differentiation. Well differentiated (WD) LPS and de-differentiated(DD) LPS represent a continuum of disease and together comprise the most frequent subtype of LPS in adults. WDLPS tend to have a goodoutcome whereas DDLPS reoccur and metastasize with an associated poor outcome for patients. The aim of the project is to identify novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of liposarcomas. Our working hypothesis is that gene products involved in maintaining the undifferentiated adipocyte phenotype of liposarcomas are a potential therapeutic target for 'differentiation therapy' of these tumours. Gene expression profiling of LPS with different histologicalcomponents, cell lines and normal tissues as well as mining of publically available data will identify differentially expressed genes linked to the differentiation process. These will be investigated in vitro and in vivo as new molecular targets for therapy.