PHG Foundation | International cancer genome consortium: data for all

International cancer genome consortium: data for all
4 May 2010 | By Dr Susmita Chowdhury | Research article

Cancer is acknowledged to be a major public health problem for both industrialised and developing nations, with more than a quarter of deaths attributable to cancer in many countries. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cancer rates could increase to 12 million new cases by 2030.

The genomes of all cancer cells accumulate somatic mutations and epigenetic markers; each tumour has its own unique genetic make-up. In addition to studying genetic features that may be shared by classes and sub-classes of cancers, researchers are also investigating personalised approaches to care for individual patients. Now, cancer genome scientists from across the globe have launched a collaboration to decode the genomes from 25,000 different cancer cell samples, the results to be made freely available to researchers.

The recent publication in Nature [Nature 464, 993-998 (15 April 2010) | doi:10.1038/nature08987] by the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) outlines a set of strategies and policies needed to implement the goals of the ICGC (see previous news).The main goal is to generate comprehensive catalogues of genomic abnormalities in 50 different clinically and socially important cancer types or subtypes. Project aims include ensuring high quality, standardised data collection and accelerating dissemination of datasets and analytical methods. It is expected that the ICGC catalogues will grow exponentially and will have immediate relevance in the cancer research community.

The ICGC has taken care to address bioethical issues involved in the use of genomic data, recognising the delicate balance between protecting the interests and rights of the sample donors and their relatives, and sharing the data to accelerate cancer research and maximise public benefit. Data access policies and ethics have been outlined in detail and two levels of access: ‘open access’ and ‘controlled access’ data sets will be available (by mid-2010). Though the ICGC encourage the scientific community to use any data without any restriction, ICGC members will be allowed the opportunity to be the first to publish global analyses from the datasets they generate.

At present, two European consortia and 10 other countries including Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, UK and USA have initiated cancer genome projects under the umbrella of the ICGC.

PHG Foundation | International cancer genome consortium: data for all