The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) pilot project is a three-year, $100 million-dollar collaborative effort between the NCI and the NHGRI that will test the feasibility of a large-scale systematic approach to identify genetic alterations in human cancer. The project, which was initially presented to the NCI BSA in November of 2005, was formally launched in FY 2006.

The Atlas will profile three tumor types (brain, lung, and ovarian) by analyzing the expression profiles and genomic changes associated with each cancer sample. This characterization will be followed by the sequencing of genes and regions that are altered in a significant number of samples in each cancer type. The integration of these data types will provide insights into functional aspects of gene regulation and its role in cancer biology.

In addition, the pilot project will create a comprehensive database, including clinical outcomes data, which will serve as a publicly-available resource to identify new genes and chromosomal regions of interest in cancer research. Advanced technology platforms will play key roles in the genomic analysis, and a caBIG™-compatible infrastructure will facilitate data access by the scientific community. Although the pilot project is slated to run for three years, it is expected that results generated will be translated into findings with meaningful clinical impact well beyond this time frame.

The TCGA features multiple integrated components, including:

Biospecimen Core Resource
Cancer Genome Characterization Centers
High-Throughput Sequencing Centers
Bioinformatics Core
Technology Development

To learn more about The Cancer Genome Atlas, visit http://cancergenome.nih.gov/index.asp.