Drugs have successfully blocked some cancer-causing genes. But experts say only a small number of people have the genetic conditions that the drugs target.
The Cancer Genome Atlas project could lead to new treatments and possibly even new ways to prevent cancer. Officials of the National Institutes of Health have agreed to spend one hundred million dollars over the next three years. Depending on the results, the project may be expanded in the future.
Cancer is the second leading killer in most developed countries, after heart disease. But survival rates have improved with medical progress in finding, treating and preventing cancer.
This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Cynthia Kirk. Internet users can learn more about the Cancer Genome Atlas project at the government Web site genome-dot-gov, g-e-n-o-m-e dot g-o-v. And our reports are online at WWW.51VOA.COM. I'm Faith Lapidus.
I'm Faith Lapidus with the VOA Special English Health Report.
Experts say cancer is not a single disease, but more than two hundred different diseases. In each case, they say, uncontrolled cell growth starts with molecular changes at the genetic level. In some cases the cells metastasize, or spread to other parts of the body, making the cancer more difficult to treat.
The idea for the project came about after the successful effort to map the human genes. The Human Genome Project was completed in two thousand three.
Doctor Francis Collins of the National Institutes of Health announced the project last week. Half the money will come from the National Cancer Institute. The other half will come from the National Human Genome Research Institute, where Doctor Collins is the director.
