Table 1 Stepwise approach to screen and assess in vivo functions of relevant mitochondrial-related genes in lung cancer

1. Mitochondrial genes

Selection of mitochondrial related genes using literature mining and molecular signatures database

2. Cancer outcome

Selection for genes showing correlation with the survival of cancer patients using a publicly available database

3. Differential gene expression in cancer

Selection for genes showing differential gene expression between cancer and normal lung tissue using a publicly available database

4. Cell specific protein expression

Demonstrate differential protein expression between cancer and normal tissue in vivo

Show cell type specific expression of mitochondrial-related proteins by immunohistochemistry

5. Cellular phenotype

Correlate cell type specific expression with phenotype and cancer outcome using publicly available databases.