What is the status of efforts to characterize the human cancer genome?
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) recognize the potential benefit that a comprehensive collection of genetic and epigenetic alterations for major cancers could provide to the cancer community. NCI and NHGRI have agreed to examine the best approaches to achieve the goal of building a comprehensive collection and analysis of mutations found in human cancers. Through a multi-phase approach, NCI and NHGRI are examining the major issues and barriers associated with compiling a complete catalog of the genetic changes that characterize cancer. Many biological, technological and scientific hurdles must be resolved in order to attempt a large-scale project to accomplish this goal. To address these issues, NCI and NHGRI sponsored a workshop in July 2005 to seek input from members of the scientific community who have expertise in cancer and clinical research, genomics, technology development, bioinformatics and bioethics, as well as those
