Cancer Genome Atlas Pilot Launched
Kevin Davies
Researchers from the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Human Genome
Research Institute (NHGRI) have launched a three-year, US$100 million pilot program for the
Human Cancer Genome Project. Highlighted by the landmark completion of the human genome
project two and a half years ago, researchers have completed the genome catalogues of more
than 300 organisms, including, this year, first drafts of the dog and chimpanzee genomes. But
the complete inventory of human genes does not by itself provide a huge advance in scientists'
understanding of the molecular biology of cancer. Many senior US researchers have publicly
posited launching a more ambitious cancer genome project.
Earlier this year, Broad Institute director Eric Lander floated the idea of a nine-year, US$1.3
billion cancer genome project, backed by former NIH director Harold Varmus and others.
Lander suggested surveying 250 genome samples from each of 250 tumour types, producing
a comprehensive catalogue of cancer-causing mutations. In a press conference in Washington
DC to mark the launch of the project, NHGRI director
Francis Collins noted that the first call
for the human genome project, in 1986, was made by a cancer biologist, Renato Dulbecco.
But while 'more than 300 genes contribute to the diabolical transformation of normal cells into
cancer cells', a complete inventory of the genetic aberrations in cancer was urgently needed.
Collins said the unique collaboration between the NCI and the NHGRI would 'go beyond
and behind the frontlines to create the first list of genomic insurgents that lead to cancer'. The
project will be called The Cancer Genome Atlas - TCGA for short. The abbreviation, made up
of the four letters of the genetic code, was no accident, said
Collins. Collins said the TCGA
pilot project would unite the 'powerful resources and experience of the [NCI], with the genome
attitude of the [NHGRI]. Together, we've committed to investing $100 million over the next
three years to construct a powerful network bf researchers, technology and resources to tackle
the cancer problem like never before.' 'This is an audacious project,' said
Collins. 'We could
not have undertaken this project until now. The biomedical research .projects are aligned, the
time is right.' Andrew von Eschenbach, director of the NCI, said the TCGA pilot project would
help make cancer a chronic manageable condition. 'Mapping the cancer genome will be an
important step in the understanding of the genetic component of the cancer process and the
genetic susceptibility of people who are threatened by cancer.'
Not all cancer researchers support the idea of the HCGP. Two distinguished cancer
biologists, Steve Elledge and Greg Hannon, recently criticised the project on the grounds that
it would fail to meet its goals, and siphon money away from more fruitful investigator-driven
research. Similar objections to the human genome project were raised two decades ago. Those
complaints were rebutted by Nobel laureate Harold Varmus and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
director Bruce Stillman. 'The cancer research community now needs a much better description
of the genetic damage that drives human cancers,' Varmus and Stillman wrote in a letter to
Science. 'This will form the basis for all future studies of cancer in the laboratory and the clinic
and will provide immediate benefit for molecular diagnosis of human cancers.'
Collins acknowledged that there has been some anxiety about the total cost of the TCGA.
'We have no idea' of the ultimate cost, he admitted, adding that lessons learned in the coming
three years will determine the cost of expanding the project from two or three tumours to 50 or
more. 'Having a pilot project is a strong inspiration for the development of new technologies
and the optimisation of existing ones,' said
Collins. NIH Director Elian Zerhouni added that
major initiatives such as .TCGA are 'not designed to consume monney but to provide new
opportunities, new hypotheses that researchers will use. Even in tight budget times, we intend
to make sure that balance [with investigator-driven funding] is preseNed.'
Now, look at the information in the passage before and after the names to find the
opinions of each person.
You should have found the following opinions:
Eric Lander
- suggested surveying 250 genome samples from each of 250 tumour types, producing
a comprehensive catalogue of cancer-causing mutations.
Francis Collins
- a complete inventory of the genetic aberrations in cancer was urgently needed.
- would ·go beyond and behind the frontlines to create the first list of genomic insurgents that lead to cancer'.
- We could not have undertaken this project until now.
- We have no idea· of the ultimate cost.
Andrew van Eschenbach
- would help make cancer a chronic manageable condition.
Steve Elledge and Greg Hannon
- would fail to meet its goals, and siphon money away from more fruitful investigator driven research.
Harold Varmus and Bruce Stillman
- The cancer research community now needs a much better description of the genetic
damage that drives human cancers.
- This will form the basis for all future studies of cancer in the laboratory and the clinic
and will provide immediate benefit for molecular diagnosis of human cancers.
Elian Zerhouni
•
Even in tight budget times, we intend to make sure that balance [with investigator driven funding] is preserved.
Here is the list of names again, along with a series of statements. Match each opinion
to the person who expressed it. All of the answers can be found in the extracts above.
NB: Any letter can be used more than once.
A Francis Collins
B Andrew von Eschenbach
C Eric Lander
D Steve Elledge and Greg Hannon
E Harold Varmus and Bruce Stillman
F Elian Zerhouni
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