Whole-Exome Sequencing (WES) of Cancer Patients

Cancers occur when the molecules that control normal cell growth (genes and proteins) are altered. Changes in the tumor genes and in the genes of normal cells are called "alterations." Many of these alterations can be detected by directly examining cancer cells in a tumor or circulating in blood. Several alterations that occur repeatedly in certain types of cancers have already been identified. These discoveries ahve led to the development of new drugs that "target" those alterations. More remain to be discovered. Some of the alterations are found in genes. Genes are composed of DNA "letters," which contain the instructions that tell the cells in our bodies how to grow and work. Genes make proteins which actually carry out the instructions in our cells. We would like to use your DNA to look for alterations in the genes in cancer cells and blood cells using a technology called "sequencing." Gene sequencing is a way of reading the DNA to identify errors in genes that may contribute to the behavior of cells. Some changes in genes occur only in cancer cells. Others occur in normal cels as well, in the genes that may have been passed from parent to child. This research study will examine both kinds of genes. The purpose of this research study is to perform gene sequencing (gene tests) on your cancer cells (obtained from biopsies or surgery) and normal tissues (usually blood). The results of the gene tests will be used to try to develop better ways to treat and prevent cancers. We will also study better ways to communicate the results of these complex gene tests to you and your doctors, and to help you and your doctors use this information to choose the best paths for treatment. As part of this work, we may also learn things about the genes in your normal cells; some of that information will also be shared wtih you and your doctors if you so choose. Importantly, this study will use tissue specimens that have already been collected and stored in the pathology department as part of your clinical care or as part of other research studies you may be participating in. In this study, gene tests will be performed on material only after the necessary clinical tests have been performed. In general, no additional invasive procedures will be required.