A Cancer Genome Atlas project study has analysed 3,527 specimens of 12 cancer types using five different genome-wide platforms and one proteomic platform. The analysis revealed that the tumours could be classified into 11 molecular subtypes, five of which were similar to their tissue-of-origin counterparts; however, other novel molecular subtypes encompassed cancers from diverse locations, such as squamous-like lung, head and neck, and bladder cancers. Classification of cancers into subtypes with distinct molecular profiles might provide multiple opportunities to improve disease management compared with tissue-of-origin classifications; for example, by informing prognosis and guiding patient enrolment in clinical trials of molecularly targeted therapies.
References
Hoadley, K. A. et al. Multiplatform analysis of 12 cancer types reveals molecular classification within and across tissue of origin. Cell 10.1016/j.cell.2014.06.049
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Cross-tissue molecular subtypes of tumour identified. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 11, 561 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2014.145
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2014.145