Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare cancer that develops in the outer layer of tissue of the adrenal glands, organs that lie on top of each kidney. The outer layer of the adrenal gland, called the adrenal cortex, produces important hormones called steroids that help the body deal with stress, regulate blood pressure and the amount of salt in the blood, as well as cause the body to acquire masculine or feminine characteristics.1 A tumor of the adrenal cortex can produce either no hormones or excess hormones.
In the U.S., an estimated 300 people are diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma each year. If detected at an early stage, this type of cancer can often be successfully treated. However, almost 70 percent of people are diagnosed with advanced adrenocortical carcinoma. For patients at the latest stage of this cancer, less than 20 percent survive five years after diagnosis.
data source: TCGA
Urothelial bladder cancer is the most common type of bladder cancer. The bladder is a hollow organ that holds liquid waste, or urine, produced by the kidneys. Invasive bladder cancer develops in the inner lining of the bladder wall and grows finger-like projections, called papillary tumors, into the hollow part of the bladder. In 2010, it was estimated that 70,500 people would be diagnosed with bladder cancer and an estimated 15,000 would die from it. Urothelial bladder cancer is more common among men than women. From 2003-2007, the median age of death from bladder cancer was 78 years of age. If the cancer is diagnosed after it has metastasized, as few as five percent of patients will be living five years after diagnosis. View additional information on urothelial bladder cancer.
data source: TCGA
This cancer starts in the tissues of the breast. Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second cause of cancer deaths in women. In 2010, 207,090 women were estimated to have been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the United States and approximately 40,000 women were estimated to have died of their disease. Men can also have breast cancer, although male breast cancer is rare. In 2010, 1,970 American men were estimated to have been diagnosed and 390 were estimated to have died of breast cancer. Due to early detection through use of mammograms and improvements in treatment, breast cancer deaths have steadily decreased since the 1990s. View additional information on breast cancer.
The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) program will focus mostly on two types of invasive breast cancer: ductal carcinoma and lobular carcinoma. Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer. It comprises about 65 to 85 percent of all breast cancer and develops in the milk ducts of the breast. About 10 percent of all cases of advanced breast cancer2 are invasive lobular breast carcinoma. This cancer develops in the breast milk-producing lobules or glands.
data source: TCGA
Cervical cancer is a disease in which cancer develops in the tissues of the cervix. The Cancer Genome Atlas is studying the two main types of cervical cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma develops in the thin, flat, squamous cells that line the vagina. Adenocarcinoma arises in the glandular cells in the vagina that secrete mucus. Risk factors for cervical cancer include smoking and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. In the future, the HPV vaccine will lower the infection rate. However, until more of the population is vaccinated, people will continue to be infected and cervical cancer will remain a public health issue. Even though most cervical cancer is discovered through annual pap smears, undiagnosed cancer can be deadly. For 2011 it was predicted that 4,290 women would die from it and 12,710 women would be diagnosed1. View additional information on cervical cancer.
data source: TCGA
Cholangiocarcinoma, also called bile duct cancer, is a cancer that develops in the bile duct. The bile duct is a network of tubes that carry bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. Tumors that start in the bile duct branches that lie inside the liver are called intrahepatic bile duct cancer,1 while those that form in the bile duct branches outside the liver are called extrahepatic bile duct cancer (hepatic derives from the Greek word for liver). About 10 percent of all cholangiocarcinoma are intrahepatic and 90 percent are extrahepatic. TCGA is studying both subtypes of cholangiocarcinoma.
Although a rare cancer, the incidence and mortality rates of cholangiocarcinoma have been increasing worldwide in the last three decades. Between 2,000 and 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma each year,3 the majority of them with tumors at advanced stages. This cancer is more prevalent in Asia and the Middle East, where parasitic infection of the bile duct increases the risk of cholangiocarcinoma. Other diseases of the bile duct or liver such as bile duct stones and liver disease, obesity, diabetes, and smoking are also risk factors. When intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma spread to other parts of the body, only two percent of patients survive five years after diagnosis.
data source: TCGA
Colon and rectal adenocarcinomas are the third most commonly diagnosed cancers in both men and women and account for nine percent of all cancer deaths. The colon and rectum are part of the digestive system and cancer forms in the colon and/or the rectum. These digestive system cancers are often referred to as colorectal cancer. In 2010, an estimated 102,600 Americans were expected to have been diagnosed with colon cancer and another 39,670 were expected to have been diagnosed with rectal cancer. In addition, 51,370 Americans were estimated to have died of colorectal cancer in 2010. More than 90 percent of colorectal cancer occurs after age 50 and the average age at diagnosis is 72. When colorectal cancer has spread to other parts of the body, only 11 percent of patients will survive five years from the date of their diagnosis. Colorectal death rates have been declining since 1998, due to the increased use of screening tests that allow detection and removal of colon polyps before they progress to cancer.
data source: TCGA
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL or DLBL) is a cancer of B cells, a type of white blood cell responsible for producing antibodies. It is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma among adults, with an annual incidence of 7–8 cases per 100,000 people per year in the USA and the UK. This cancer occurs primarily in older individuals, with a median age of diagnosis at approximately 70 years of age, though it can also occur in children and young adults in rare cases. DLBCL is an aggressive tumor which can arise in virtually any part of the body, and the first sign of this illness is typically the observation of a rapidly growing mass, sometimes associated with B symptoms—fever, weight loss, and night sweats.
The causes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma are not well understood. Usually DLBCL arises from normal B cells, but it can also represent a malignant transformation of other types of lymphoma or leukemia. An underlying immunodeficiency is a significant risk factor. Infection with Epstein–Barr virus has also been found to contribute to the development of some subgroups of DLBCL.
Diagnosis of DLBCL is made by removing a portion of the tumor through a biopsy, and then examining this tissue using a microscope. Usually a hematopathologist makes this diagnosis. Several subtypes of DLBCL have been identified, each having a different clinical presentation and prognosis. However, the usual treatment for each of these is chemotherapy, often in combination with an antibody targeted at the tumor cells. Through these treatments, more than half of patients with DLBCL can be cured, and the overall five-year survival rate for older adults is around 58%.
data source: Wikipedia
The two most common types of esophageal cancer are squamous cell, which arises in the flat cells lining the esophagus, and adenocarcinoma, which arises in the cells that release mucus and other fluids. Researchers with The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) are studying both types. Esophageal cancer is the 18th most common cancer type, with an estimated 16,980 new cases in 2015,1 representing 1% of all new cancer cases in the United States.
Esophageal cancer is three to four times more common in men than in women, and the risk of development is higher with age. Within esophageal cancers, the two different types, squamous cell and adenocarcinoma, are associated with different risk factors. The risk of developing squamous cell esophageal cancer is increased by tobacco smoking and heavy drinking. Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is associated with the reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus in disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barret’s esophagus.
The rates for new esophageal cancers in the United States has been falling by an average of 1.2 % each year over the last 10 years. However, esophageal cancer tends to be diagnosed at an advanced stage because it is often undetected until major symptoms appear, leading to a low 5 year survival rate of 29.3% between 2005 and 2011. Esophageal cancer is treated with a combination of therapies that may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or endoscopic treatments.
data source: TCGA
Most head and neck cancers begin in the moist, mucus membranes lining the inside of the mouth, nose and throat. These membranes are made up of squamous cells and the head and neck cancers that grow in these cells are called squamous cell carcinomas. These cancers most often affect people over the age of 50 and the rates in men are more than twice as high as the rates in women. In 2010, about 36,000 Americans are estimated to have been diagnosed with head and neck cancers and an estimated 7,880 were expected have died of squamous cell carcinomas. Known risks for developing head and neck cancers are smoking and heavy drinking.
data source: TCGA
The most common type of kidney cancer is called renal cell carcinoma. This cancer forms in the cells lining the small tubules in the kidney that filter waste from the blood and make urine. An estimated 58,240 Americans were expected to have been diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2010 and an estimated 13,040 to have died of this cancer. Most people with kidney cancer are usually over 55 years of age and this cancer is more common in men. When detected early, most cases of kidney cancer can be treated effectively. However, survival rates are low when the cancer has spread from the kidney to other parts of the body. View additional information on kidney cancer.
The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) will analyze two subtypes of renal cell carcinoma called clear cell carcinoma and papillary carcinoma. The identification of these subtypes of kidney cancer is based on how the cancer cells look under a microscope. Kidney clear cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer, representing approximately 92 percent of such cases. Papillary carcinoma accounts for about 8 percent.
data source: TCGA
The most common type of kidney cancer is called renal cell carcinoma. This cancer forms in the cells lining the small tubules in the kidney that filter waste from the blood and make urine. An estimated 58,240 Americans were expected to have been diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2010 and an estimated 13,040 to have died of this cancer. Most people with kidney cancer are usually over 55 years of age and this cancer is more common in men. When detected early, most cases of kidney cancer can be treated effectively. However, survival rates are low when the cancer has spread from the kidney to other parts of the body. View additional information on kidney cancer.
The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) will analyze two subtypes of renal cell carcinoma called clear cell carcinoma and papillary carcinoma. The identification of these subtypes of kidney cancer is based on how the cancer cells look under a microscope. Kidney clear cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer, representing approximately 92 percent of such cases. Papillary carcinoma accounts for about 8 percent.
data source: TCGA
The most common type of kidney cancer is called renal cell carcinoma. This cancer forms in the cells lining the small tubules in the kidney that filter waste from the blood and make urine. An estimated 58,240 Americans were expected to have been diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2010 and an estimated 13,040 to have died of this cancer. Most people with kidney cancer are usually over 55 years of age and this cancer is more common in men. When detected early, most cases of kidney cancer can be treated effectively. However, survival rates are low when the cancer has spread from the kidney to other parts of the body. View additional information on kidney cancer.
The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) will analyze two subtypes of renal cell carcinoma called clear cell carcinoma and papillary carcinoma. The identification of these subtypes of kidney cancer is based on how the cancer cells look under a microscope. Kidney clear cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer, representing approximately 92 percent of such cases. Papillary carcinoma accounts for about 8 percent.
data source: TCGA
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. An acute leukemia can become worse quickly if it is not treated and can result in death within months. AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in American adults and the average age of a patient with AML is 67. In 2010, 12,330 people were estimated to have been diagnosed with AML in the United States, with an estimated 8,950 deaths. Survival decreases with older ages because standard treatments for AML are less tolerated.
data source: TCGA
Lower grade glioma is a type of cancer that develops in the glial cells of the brain. Glial cells support the brain’s nerve cells and keep them healthy. Tumors are classified into grades I, II, III or IV based on standards set by the World Health Organization. TCGA is including grades II and III in this specific study, as opposed to the more common and higher grade brain tumor, glioblastoma multiforme, which was studied in a separate project. Regardless of grade, as the tumor grows it compresses the normal brain tissue, frequently causing disabling or fatal effects. In 2010, more than 22,000 Americans were estimated to have been diagnosed and 13,140 were estimated to have died from brain and other cancers of the nervous system.
data source: TCGA
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common form of liver cancer in the United States, making up more than 80 percent of cases. This disease arises in the hepatocytes, the cells that make up most of the liver. Worldwide, this cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths, but it is not as common in the United States where it ranks at ninth.
On a global scale, 78 percent of liver cancer cases are secondary to chronic Hepatitis B or C infections. Another risk factor is cirrhosis, a chronic disease where scar tissue replaces liver cells. An estimated 28,720 new cases were diagnosed in the Unites States in 2012.
data source: TCGA
Lung cancer accounts for more deaths than any other cancer in both men and women, about 28 percent of all cancer deaths. In 2010, an estimated 222,520 Americans were expected to have been diagnosed with lung cancer and 157,300 were expected to have died from their disease. The prognosis for lung cancer is poor – most lung cancer patients are diagnosed with advanced cancer and only 16 percent of patients will survive for five years after their diagnosis. TCGA researchers are studying the most common type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancers. Specifically, the subtypes being studied are called lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma.
data source: TCGA
Lung cancer accounts for more deaths than any other cancer in both men and women, about 28 percent of all cancer deaths. In 2010, an estimated 222,520 Americans were expected to have been diagnosed with lung cancer and 157,300 were expected to have died from their disease. The prognosis for lung cancer is poor – most lung cancer patients are diagnosed with advanced cancer and only 16 percent of patients will survive for five years after their diagnosis. TCGA researchers are studying the most common type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancers. Specifically, the subtypes being studied are called lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma.
data source: TCGA
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects the thin layer of tissue that lines the chest, abdominal cavities, and most of the organs within them. This lining is called the mesothelium.
In the United States, there are roughly 3,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Exposure to asbestos is the main risk factor for developing this disease, and men tend to be more commonly affected— a fact that most likely correlates with men holding jobs where they are more likely to come in contact with it.
The term “asbestos” refers to a group of fibrous minerals known for their heat and corrosion resistance that in the past, were often used in a variety of products such as insulation, tiles, patching compounds, and more. When disturbed, asbestos can shed many tiny airborne particles which can be unknowingly inhaled or swallowed. An individual might not develop symptoms of mesothelioma until 20 or more years after initial contact, and most people develop the disease after the age of 65.
The mesothelioma project is an international collaborative effort between TCGA as well as the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in the United Kingdom and the University of Western Australia. View additional information on mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is part of an effort to characterize rare tumor types.
data source: TCGA
Ovarian cancer occurs in the ovary of a woman’s reproductive system and accounts for about three percent of all cancers in women. In 2010, 21,888 women were estimated to have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the United States and 13,850 women were estimated to have died of this disease. Ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma, the cancer being studied by TCGA, is a type of epithelial ovarian cancer and accounts for about 90 percent of all ovarian cancers. Women aged 65 and older are most affected by ovarian cancer. As a result of the lack of effective screening tests, most women are diagnosed with advanced cancer.
data source: TCGA
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the most common form of pancreatic cancer, making up more than 80 percent of cases. It begins in the cells of the pancreas’s ducts, which transport juices containing important digestive enzymes into the small intestine.
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of global cancer-related deaths, and is almost always fatal. In 2012, it was estimated that around 44,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer were diagnosed and more than 37,000 deaths from this disease occurred in the United States alone, affecting both men and women.
Risk factors include having a family history of the disease itself or a history of chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Other risk factors include having Lynch syndrome, diabetes, being overweight or obese, and smoking.
Pancreatic cancer poses a particular challenge for The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). All cancerous tumors are made up of a combination of normal and cancerous cells – and pancreatic cancer tumors have a relatively low percentage of cancerous cells. TCGA has strict requirements on only accepting samples of tumors with a high percentage of cancerous cells, as this allows for more accurate mutation detection. Because of the challenging nature of this disease, TCGA has relaxed its criteria regarding the percentage of cancerous cells to ensure samples received are representative of the disease.
data source: TCGA
Paraganglioma is a rare cancer that originates in the nerve cells of the adrenal glands, organs on top of each kidney that produce important hormones. Paraganglioma that develops in the center of the adrenal gland is called pheochromocytoma. Paraganglioma that forms outside of the adrenal gland, often along blood vessels and nerves in the head and neck, is called extra-adrenal paraganglioma, or simply paraganglioma.
Each year, between 2 and 8 people per million worldwide are diagnosed with paraganglioma and pheochromocytoma. Ten percent of all cases occur in children. In both adults and children, pheochromocytoma is more common than paraganglioma. No known environmental, dietary, or lifestyle risk factors have been associated with these cancers. However, paraganglioma and pheochromocytoma can be hereditary diseases:3 one study reported that about 41 percent of patients diagnosed with one of these diseases in the U.S. carry inherited genetic mutations that increase the risk of malignancy. The Cancer Genome Atlas is studying both hereditary and non-hereditary (sometimes called sporadic) paraganglioma and pheochromocytoma. When the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, only 44 percent of patients survive five years after their diagnosis.
data source: TCGA
Prostate cancer is a disease of the prostate, a walnut-size gland in the male reproductive system. Nearly all prostate cancer is prostate adenocarcinoma. Prostate cancer is graded based on its Gleason score, which is how the cells look under a microscope and ranges from two to ten. A low Gleason score means that the cancer tissue is similar to normal cells and unlikely to spread. A high Gleason score means that the cancer cells are very different from normal cells and are likely to spread. For patients whose cancer has spread, their survival time is usually one to three years. It was estimated that for 2011, 240,890 men would be diagnosed and 33,720 would die from prostate cancer.
data source: TCGA
Colon and rectal adenocarcinomas are the third most commonly diagnosed cancers in both men and women and account for nine percent of all cancer deaths. The colon and rectum are part of the digestive system and cancer forms in the colon and/or the rectum. These digestive system cancers are often referred to as colorectal cancer. In 2010, an estimated 102,600 Americans were expected to have been diagnosed with colon cancer and another 39,670 were expected to have been diagnosed with rectal cancer. In addition, 51,370 Americans were estimated to have died of colorectal cancer in 2010. More than 90 percent of colorectal cancer occurs after age 50 and the average age at diagnosis is 72. When colorectal cancer has spread to other parts of the body, only 11 percent of patients will survive five years from the date of their diagnosis. Colorectal death rates have been declining since 1998, due to the increased use of screening tests that allow detection and removal of colon polyps before they progress to cancer.
data source: TCGA
The term “sarcoma” encompasses a broad family of rare cancers that can affect soft tissue or bone throughout the body, and sometimes both.1 Sarcoma cases constitute about 15 percent of all cancers in children, but are much rarer in adults and make up only about one percent of adult cancer cases.2
In 2012, it was estimated that about 11,280 Americans would be diagnosed with soft tissue sarcomas and that approximately one third of those people would not survive. In addition, an estimated 2,890 Americans would be diagnosed with bone sarcomas, and approximately half were not expected to survive.1
However, the exact number of people affected is unknown because sarcoma can be misdiagnosed due to being difficult to distinguish from other health problems. Plus, there are often few, if any, symptoms at early stages.1
TCGA will be focusing its studies on seven sarcoma subtypes:
data source: TCGA
Melanoma is a cancer in the type of skin cells called melanocytes. Melanocyes are the cells that produce melanin, which colors the skin. When exposed to sun, these cells make more melanin which causes the skin to darken or tan. Melanoma can occur anywhere on the body and risk factors include fair complexion, family history of melanoma, and being exposed to natural or artificial sunlight over long periods of time. Melanoma is most often discovered because it has metastasized, or spread, to another organ, such as the lymph nodes. In many cases, the skin melanoma site is never found. Because of this challenge, TCGA is studying primarily metastatic cases. In other cancers selected for study by TCGA, metastatic cases are excluded. For 2011, it was estimated that there were 70,230 new cases of melanoma and 8,790 deaths from it.
data source: TCGA
Stomach cancer, the 16th most common cancer in the United States, arises in the cells that line the stomach. The number of new cases of stomach cancer in the United States was estimated to be 24,590 in 2015.1
The incidence of stomach cancer varies widely depending on genetic and environmental factors. Stomach cancer is more likely to affect men, older patients, and those with a family history of the disease. In America, the risk of developing stomach cancer is also higher for Hispanic Americans, African Americans and Asians/Pacific Islanders than for non-Hispanic whites. Globally, the incidence varies by geographic region. Environmental risk factors for stomach cancer include smoking, obesity, and a diet high in smoked, salted, or pickled foods.2 Another risk factor is bacterial or viral infection. Infection by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori in the stomach appears to be a major cause of stomach cancer, as long-term infection with this bacterium can lead to inflammation and pre-cancer development. Research also indicates that stomach cancer is associated with infection with Epstein-Barr virus, a virus of the herpes family that is best known for causing mononucleosis.
The rates for new stomach cancers in the United States has been falling by 1.5% each year on average over the last 10 years.3 However, stomach cancer tends to be diagnosed at an advanced stage because it is often undetected until major symptoms appear, leading to a low 5 year survival rate of 17.9% between 2005 and 2011. Stomach cancer is treated with a combination of therapies that may include surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or radiation therapy.
data source: TCGA
More than 90 percent of testicular cancer start in the germ cells, which are cells in the testicles and develop into sperm. This type of cancer is known as testicular germ cell cancer. Testicular germ cell cancer can be classified as either seminomas or nonseminomas, whose cells have different appearances under a microscope. Another difference is that nonseminomas typically grow and spread more quickly than seminomas. A testicular germ cell tumor that contains a mix of both these subtypes is classified as a nonseminoma. The Cancer Genome Atlas is studying both seminomas and nonseminomas.
Testicular germ cell cancer is rare, comprising one to two percent of all tumors in males. However, it is the most common cancer in men ages 15 to 35. The incidence of testicular germ cell cancer has been continuously rising in many countries, including Europe and the U.S. In 2013, about 8,000 American men are estimated to be diagnosed with this cancer. Of those, 370 are predicted to die of this disease. Men who are Caucasian, have an undescended testicle, abnormally developed testicles, or a family history of testicular cancer have a greater risk of developing testicular cancer. Fortunately, testicular germ cell cancer is highly treatable.
data source: TCGA
Thyroid cancer develops in the follicular cells of the thyroid. The thyroid gland is located at the front of the neck below the voice box. The thyroid gland secretes hormones that control heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and weight. It is estimated that approximately 45,000 Americans were diagnosed and about 1,700 died from thyroid cancer in 2010. Papillary thyroid carcinoma, the type being studied by TCGA, is the most common type of thyroid cancer, accounting for 80 percent of all cases. It is diagnosed most commonly in patients who are around the age of 49 and it is more common in women. Thyroid cancer grows very slowly and if it is diagnosed early, this cancer can be cured.
data source: TCGA
This cancer develops in the outer surface of the thymus, a gland behind the breastbone that produces T-cells, a type of white blood cells. Thymoma is rare, but it is the most common tumor in adults affecting the mediastinum, which is the cavity between the lungs containing the heart, esophagus, and trachea. A tumor of the thymus tends to grow slowly and rarely spreads to other parts of the body. However, of the estimated 400 Americans who develop this cancer each year, half are diagnosed with metastatic thymoma. When the cancer metastasizes, only 45 percent of patients survive five years after their diagnosis.
data source: TCGA
Endometrial cancer develops in the cells that form the inner lining of the uterus, or the endometrium, and is one of the most common cancers of the female reproductive system among American women. In 2010, approximately 43,000 women in the United States were estimated to have been diagnosed and almost 8,000 to have died of endometrial cancer. This cancer occurs most commonly in women aged 60 years or older. About 69 percent of endometrial cancers are diagnosed at an early stage, and as a result about 83 percent of women will survive five years following the time of diagnosis.
data source: TCGA
Uterine carcinosarcoma is a cancer that develops in the uterus. Carcinosarcoma signifies that, when looked at under a microscope, the tumor displays histological features of both endometrial carcinoma and sarcoma. Endometrial carcinoma starts in the endometrium, the inner layer of tissue lining the uterus, while sarcoma begins in the outer layer of muscle of the uterus.
A rare cancer, uterine carcinosarcoma makes up less than five percent of all uterine cancers. In the U.S., about two per 100,000 women develop uterine carcinosarcoma annually. Roughly only 35 percent of patients survive five years after diagnosis.
data source: TCGA
Uveal melanoma develops in the pigment cells of the uvea, which is the middle layer of the eye. The uvea consists of three main parts: the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. Compared to tumors of the iris, tumors of the ciliary body and choroid tend to be larger and more likely to spread to other parts of the body. TCGA is studying tumors from all three parts of the uvea.
Although uveal melanoma is rare, it is the most common eye cancer in adults. In the United States, approximately 1,700 people are diagnosed each year. When uveal melanoma becomes metastatic (spreads to other parts of the body), almost all patients die within one year. Individuals who are Caucasian, are older, have fair skin that tans easily, or have light eye color tend to be more at risk of uveal melanoma.
data source: TCGA