Sequencing of colorectal tumors
05. 09. 2011 | Nature Genetics
Genomic sequencing of colorectal cancer tumors is reported this week in Nature Genetics. Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer related mortality.
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Matthew Meyerson and colleagues report whole-genome sequencing of primary colorectal cancer tumors and matched non-cancerous tissue controls from nine patients. They identify a range of genomic rearrangements, with an average of 75 somatic rearrangements per tumor, and including networks of translocations between pairs of chromosomes.
They identify a recurrent fusion of the genes VTI1A-TCF7L2 in 3 of 97 additional cases screened. Their findings in cell lines containing this fusion gene suggest a functional role for this fusion in cell growth and oncogenic progression.
Reference
- Bass AJ, Lawrence MS, et al. Genomic sequencing of colorectal adenocarcinomas identifies a recurrent VTI1A-TCF7L2 fusion. Nature Genetics 2011. doi: 10.1038/ng.936
Keywords: colorectal adenocarcinoma, genomic sequencing