NCI's Cancer Genome AtlasTo Include Esophageal Cancer

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has begun its work on plans to include Esophageal Cancer (EC) in its cutting edge research to map the genome of at least 20 other cancers.
 
For more than a year, ECAN advocated for inclusion of EC in this research that holds the potential for significant progress in fighting and preventing cancer. EC was not initially included in the research in part because of challenges in obtaining sufficient tissue samples. Earlier this year, ECAN offered assistance to overcome those issues. In late May, NCI agreed to include EC in TCGA and invited ECAN to participate in the working group planning the research. 
  
"This project has immense potential to open important areas of biological inquiry into esophageal cancer development and to identify new therapeutic targets for this deadly disease," said Dr. Adam Bass of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  "I commend ECAN for their tireless advocacy that helped make this project a reality."