Pediaric Cancer Genome Project Makes Data Available To All

The Pediatric Cancer Genome Project has released the full genomes of over 500 normal and cancerous tumor tissue samples, with a view towards encouraging research against childhood cancers. Instantly, the wealth of knowledge on whole genome data doubles with this release.

Of the some 10,000 childhood cancer diagnoses made annually in the United States, over half affect the central nervous system (including the brain) as well as leukemias. According to National Cancer Institute statistics, up to 1,500 chlidren succumb to cancer each year.

Genome data will benefit many fields

While the genomic information likely most benefits cancer researchers, in fact scientists from many medical fields will benefit from this information.

In a press release, Dr. James Downing, the scientific director of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, wrote:

"This effort has generated more discoveries than we thought possible. We want to make this information available to the broader scientific community so that, collectively, we can explore new treatment options for these children. By sharing the information even before we analyze it ourselves, we're hoping that other researchers can use this rich resource for insights into many other types of diseases in children and adults."

The almost entirely privately funded Cancer Genome Project costing $65 million, was initially launched in 2010. The data appears in the current issue of the journal Nature Genetics.

Source: PCGP