From integrated genomics to tumor lineage dependency

In principle, genomic information derived from tumors should illuminate critical cellular dependencies that are tractable to therapeutic targeting; however, realizing this ideal remains difficult. Using an integrated analysis of high-resolution single nucleotide polymorphism maps and gene expression databases associated with the NCI60 collection cancer cell lines, we identified the transcription factor MITF as an amplified oncogene in melanoma that is critical for anchoring lineage dependence and malignant character. Similar combined genomic approaches may be useful in other cancer types to learn how critical regulators of tumor lineage are linked to genomic alterations in cancer cells.