The Nation's Investment in Cancer Research

Following Important Leads

The Cancer Genome Atlas

In addition to Genome Wide-Association Studies, which seek to identify common DNA variants associated with cancer, NCI is conducting crucial studies into the entire genetic composition of many cancers. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project, begun in 2005 as a collaboration between NCI and the National Human Genome Research Institute (also part of the National Institutes of Health), has utilized and helped develop tools and technologies to generate impressive amounts of data on the genetic make-up of tumors. In September 2008, TCGA reported the first results of its large-scale, comprehensive study of glioblastoma, the most deadly form of brain cancer. The study, reported in Nature, identified three previously unrecognized mutations that occur with significant frequency, and the delineation of core pathways disrupted in this type of brain cancer. One of the most exciting results is an unexpected observation that points to a potential mechanism of resistance to a common chemotherapy drug used for brain cancer.

At present, TCGA, through its network of characterization, sequencing, and analysis centers, is also working on lung and ovarian cancers. Moving forward, TCGA has established a goal of rigorously, comprehensively, and reproducibly characterizing the genomes of four to six tumor types per year — with all results both ensuring patient privacy and providing ready access to the research community.