The Cancer Genome Atlas

The Cancer Genome Atlas is a comprehensive effort by NCI and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) to accelerate understanding of the molecular basis of cancer through the application of genome analysis technologies, such as large-scale genome sequencing. This project is assessing the feasibility of a full-scale effort to systematically explore genomic changes involved in human cancer, focusing on three types: brain (glioblastoma multiforme), lung (squamous carcinoma), and ovarian (serous cystadenocarcinoma). This information could lead to an expanded catalog of new therapeutic targets and new ways to categorize tumors in terms of those most likely to respond to specific treatments.