Sequencing of colorectal tumors

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. 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.