© 1999 by Oxford University Press
Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 91, No. 16, 1360,
August 18, 1999
© 1999 Oxford University Press
NEWS |
"Age of Possibility" Ushered In By Rapid Gene Discovery
Two years ago this month, U.S. Vice President Al Gore publically launched the National Cancer Institute's Tumor Gene Index program at a crowded White House ceremony. With cameras rolling, Gore explained that the new NCI initiative would compile a complete record of genes involved in tumor development, a first step in defining tumors based on their own unique molecular features. As he concluded his remarks that day, Gore threw his support behind the program by saying this is "an age of possibility."
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That possibility is fast becoming reality. According to Robert Strausberg, Ph.D., an NCI scientist who oversees the initiative, TGI already has discovered nearly 30,000 new human genes, making it the leading source of new gene discovery in the world today. Human DNA contains an estimated 100,000 genes, of which over 73,000 have been discovered.
Strausberg said TGI has catalogued over 66,400 genes in its first 2 years, both new and previously identified genes. In total, over 40,500 genes are active, directly or indirectly, in one or more cancers. Some of the 44 tissues that have been studied to date include:
- Prostate: About 13,000 genes have been found in the prostate. Of these,
4,141 are active in cancer and 1,089 have not been seen in other tissues.
- Breast: Over 5,500 genes have been identified in the breast. Of these, 5,327
are involved in cancer and 221 genes have never been seen in other tissues.
- Colon: More than 11,800 genes have been identified in the colon. Of these,
11,783 are active in cancer and 892 have never been seen in other tissues.
- Lung: Over 15,500 genes have been located in the lung. Of these,
12,488 are active in cancer and 1,468 have not been found elsewhere in the body.
- Brain: Over 13,900 genes have been discovered in the brain. Of these,
10,781 are active in cancer and 1,524 genes have not been identified in other parts of the body.
"The Tumor Gene Index is still far from complete," said Richard Klausner, M.D., NCI director. "But already, it is difficult to think of another project that in such a short period of time has generated so much useful, publicly available data to benefit cancer research and ultimately people with cancer."
TGI is the first in a series of initiatives under NCI's Cancer Genome Anatomy Project a program to develop publicly available databases and technologies that assist scientists in deciphering the molecular anatomy of the cancer cell.
"Just as anatomists have defined the human body, CGAP seeks to define for the first time the molecules that are present in cancer cells and make them accessible to scientists," said Strausberg.
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