NCI states:
"More than 150 researchers at some 18 centers around the country will use various genomic technologies, including next-generation DNA sequencing machines, to produce the data. As has happened during the pilot project, the information will be deposited in public databases, where the scientific community can use the results for many purposes, including searching for vulnerabilities in tumors that could be exploited by therapies."
It continues:
"The project aims to complete in-depth genomic analyses of 10 cancer types using approximately 500 samples of both tumor and matched normal tissue of each type, while also sequencing and characterizing at least 100 tumors for each of the additional cancers in the next 2 years, officials said.
The TCGA research network will broaden its mapping efforts and generate more in-depth analyses of all of the cancers in the following 3 years. Dr. Barker noted that the development of new bioinformatic tools to analyze large amounts of genomic data will be critical to the project’s success.
NCI and NHGRI will each commit $50 million in non-Recovery Act funds to TCGA over the initial 2-year period. The two institutes have also committed to funding the remaining 3 years of the project, and the details will be finalized shortly, officials said.
The 20 cancer types have not been announced, but the criteria include relatively high incidence, substantial lethality, and the availability of high-quality biological samples for analysis. A type of kidney cancer called clear cell renal cell carcinoma and a type of breast cancer called invasive ductal carcinoma are examples of cancers likely to be priorities."
The TCGA web site is interesting to track and see what is accomplished. We believe as we had stated in our book and white papers that this is an essential area for management of health care costs. The detection and management of cancers needs genetic markers which assist the physician in improved targeting. This is beneficial use of the Stimulus funds.
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