International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC). Sequence-based analysis and genome-wide cataloging of aberrations in tumors as a basis for precision medicine

Cataloging genomic, epigenetic and transcriptional aberrations in tumor cells along with the integration of predisposing or clinically relevant germline variants is the prerequisite for the future application of precision medicine approaches in oncology. The International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) aims to describe the key alterations of the 50 most common and socio-economically relevant subtypes of cancer on the different OMICs layers. To this end, tumors are characterized by sequencing according to standardized protocols. Under defined circumstances, the obtained data are also accessible to researchers outside the ICGC. Though data acquisition is still ongoing, the ICGC has already provided novel insights into, for example, mutational signatures, driver events and deregulated signalling pathways in cancer.