Comments on the rank product method for analyzing replicated experiments

Abstract 

Breitling et al. [1] introduced a statistical technique, the rank product method, for detecting differentially regulated genes in replicated microarray experiments. The technique has achieved widespread acceptance and is now used more broadly, in such diverse fields as RNAi analysis, proteomics, and machine learning. In this note, we relate the rank product method to linear rank statistics and provide an alternative derivation of distribution theory attending the rank product method.

Keywords: Rank product method, Rank statistics, Wilcoxon score, van der Waerden score, Gamma approximation, Edgeworth approximation