
A research team from the Wellcome Sanger Institute in the UK has consolidated the information on all genes that are known to be associated with human cancer into a comprehensive summary called the Cancer Gene Census.
Developed in collaboration with the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC), the Census describes more than 700 genes and provides details on their functioning across all cancer types.
This information is expected to aid in the understanding of cancer causes, discovering drug targets and designing therapies.
In the Cancer Gene Census, the researchers highlighted different roles played by several genes in various cancers. The understanding of these roles offers opportunities for improved personalised medicine and to determine drug combinations for any genetic functions or mutations.
The team outlines the functional changes to these genes as ten Cancer Hallmarks, which are biological processes that drive cancer, such as errors in DNA repair or immune system suppression.
Wellcome Sanger Institute project lead author Dr Zbyslaw Sondka said: “Scientific literature is very compartmentalised. With the Cancer Gene Census, we’re breaking down all those compartments and putting everything together to reveal the full complexity of cancer genetics.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalData“This is the broadest and most detailed review of human cancer genes and their functions ever created and will be continually updated and expanded to keep it at the forefront of cancer genetics research.”
Combining the Cancer Gene Census with the COSMIC database, which characterises more than 1,500 different types of cancer and mutation forms, could allow exact identification of the genes and mutations affecting a particular cancer.
In turn, this can allow researchers to determine drugs that would be effective against individual cancers.
COSMIC head Simon Forbes said: “The combination of the Cancer Gene Census with COSMIC will enable researchers to investigate individual mutations and try to find good targets for anti-cancer drugs based on the actual processes involved.”