sequencing the complete DNA of an individual organism's genome.

Today’s announcement regarding the sequencing of whole prostate cancer genomes is an historic development in the fight against prostate cancer. The ability to sequence whole genomes will spare some patients from unnecessary treatments and side effects while eliminating an estimated $1.5 billion that is spent each year on overtreatment. The complete research findings will be published in the February 10 issue of Nature.

What is whole genome sequencing?
It is the process of sequencing the complete DNA of an individual organism's genome.

How much information is this?
If the DNA sequence of the human genome were compiled into books, it would fill 200 volumes of a Manahattan-sized phone book (or one 35-foot high phone book.) People won't be carrying this data around on flash drives either - it would still take a significant hard drive to store all of this information.

What did this research do?
Researchers mapped the complete genome of prostate cancer. They took the genetic material from the tumors of seven patients with advanced prostate cancer and then compared these cancer genomes to the normal genomes of these same patients. This information is visually presented using a Circos plot.

What is a Circos plot?
A Circos plot is a diagram created with Circos software for visualizing data in a circular layout. It was originally designed to aid in the visualization of genomic data.

Here are the Circos plots of the seven prostate cancer patients' genomes:




What does this mean for men diagnosed with prostate cancer?
The data expands our fundamental understanding of the disease’s biology and provides the technical and clinical roadmap for improving patient treatment and outcomes. Ultimately, every patient with prostate cancer will get a Circos plot with the whole genome sequencing of their biopsy as a unique portrait of the code that makes their prostate cancer manifest as it does.

How much does it cost to sequence a whole genome?
The current estimated cost of sequencing a whole genome is $25,000 or less. Experts predict that the cost of routine sequencing will ultimately be around $5,000 per genome. (This figure compares favorably to the cost of $90,000-$150,000 per patient for a radical prostatectomy followed by several years of androgen deprivation therapy using Lupron.)

Research Background
Work conducted by lead institutions, The Broad Institute, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Weill Cornell Medical College, along with 15 other collaborating institutions, completed this initial project ahead of a planned NIH effort.

Teleconference
The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) hosted a teleconference to provide insight and commentary from leading professionals in the field. Click on the image above right to listen to the teleconference.

Listen to the Teleconference



Teleconference Participants:

Dr. Jonathan W. Simons (moderator)
President & CEO, PCF
Dr. Levi Garraway (Co-lead investigator)
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, The Broad Institute

Dr. Michael Berger
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Dr. Mark Rubin (Co-lead investigator)
Weil Cornell Medical College

Dr. Ash Tewari
Weill-Cornell Medical College
Dan Zenka
VP of Communications & Patient Advocate, PCF


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