Not all cancers are created equal—sequences in a cancer cell’s genetic code can affect how quickly it spreads, how resistant it is to radiation, and how it turns a normal cell into a cancerous one. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), a collaboration between the National Cancer Institute and the National Human Genome Research Institute, is focused on identifying, analyzing, and sharing these genetic traits. Ultimately, this information could help the medical community provide personalized treatments and more accurate diagnoses for patients.
As the largest-scale cancer genomics project to date, TCGA researchers have mapped key genomic changes in 33 different types of cancer, including 10 rare forms of the disease. The organization has also collected 2.5 petabytes of data describing tumor and normal tissues from more than 11,000 patients. This information is publicly available and has been used by thousands of researchers.
Join us as TCGA Director Dr. Jean Claude Zenklusen discusses the role of genetics and technology in studying, treating and preventing cancer.
Dr. Zenklusen was named director of TCGA in 2013. Prior to that, he served as the scientific program director of the Office of Cancer Genomics. He also cloned two novel tumor suppressor genes while participating in the Human Genome Project in 1996. He received his PhD in cancer biology and genetics from the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in 1995.
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Computer History Museum
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