Introduction

Integrated genome-wide screens of DNA copy number and gene expression in human cancers have accelerated the rate of discovery of amplified and overexpressed genes. However, the biological importance of most of the genes identified in such studies remains unclear. In a recently published paper, we proposed a weight-of-evidence based classification system for identifying individual genes in amplified regions that are probably selected for during tumour development. We have used this approach to comprehensively catalogue genes which are both amplified and overexpressed in cancer. This complements a census of cancer genes for which there is sufficient evidence to support a causal role in sporadic or familial cancer development when mutated. We continue to update this catalogue and release 2 will appear on the 15th November 2010.

We welcome comments, in particular potential papers for inclusion.

Paper: Nature Reviews Cancer 10, 59-64 (January 2010)