The Cancer Genome Atlas Pan-Cancer analysis project

TLDR

Current clinical practice is organized by tissue of origin, but TCGA is identifying genomic commonalities across a dozen cancers. The study aims to leverage molecular similarities and differences across cancers to guide targeted therapies, repurpose existing treatments, and build an integrated view of tumor lineages. TCGA profiled and analyzed large numbers of tumors at DNA, RNA, protein, and epigenetic levels, comparing the first 12 types to identify functional roles of molecular aberrations.

Abstract

Current clinical practice is organized according to tissue or organ of origin of tumors. Now, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research Network has started to identify genomic and other molecular commonalities among a dozen different types of cancer. Emerging similarities and contrasts will form the basis for targeted therapies of the future and for repurposing existing therapies by molecular rather than histological similarities of the diseases. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research Network has profiled and analyzed large numbers of human tumors to discover molecular aberrations at the DNA, RNA, protein and epigenetic levels. The resulting rich data provide a major opportunity to develop an integrated picture of commonalities, differences and emergent themes across tumor lineages. The Pan-Cancer initiative compares the first 12 tumor types profiled by TCGA. Analysis of the molecular aberrations and their functional roles across tumor types will teach us how to extend therapies effective in one cancer type to others with a similar genomic profile.