Emerging tactical strategies for fighting the war on cancer based on the genetic landscape

Although it is well-established that cancer is driven by genetic mutations resulting in the acquisition of onco-genes and the loss of tumor suppressors, until recently many of the genomic details remained obscure. As a result of recent high-throughput DNA sequencing, basic insights into the spectrum of protein coding mutations in many cancers are now known. These findings provide an unprecedented framework of understanding and present new avenues for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer. In this article we discuss several high impact areas of global sequencing projects including developing drugs that specifically target cancer cells, creating personalized tools for better treatment and monitoring, and developing pre-symptomatic diagnostic tests. Capitalizing on these and other advances represent a new turning point in the war on cancer.