MutationView/KMcancerDB: a database for cancer gene mutations.
Cancer Sci., 98 (3):
259-67 (March 2007)DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2007.00405.x
Abstract
It is known that cancers are caused by accumulated mutations in various
genes and consequent functional alterations of proteins that are
important for maintenance of normal cellular functions. The changes
in nucleotide sequences and expression patterns of cancer-related
genes are being extensively studied to better understand the mechanisms
of tumorigenesis and to develop methods for DNA/protein corrected
diagnosis and drug discovery. At present, a number of computer databases
for molecular information on cancer-related genes are available publicly
through the internet. These databases deal with familial cancer and
sporadic cancer at the levels of germline mutation or somatic mutation,
genomic or chromosomal abnormalities, and changes in the expression
levels of relevant genes. Previously, we constructed a human gene
mutation database named MutationView (http://mutview.dmb.med.keio.ac.jp/)
and have accumulated mutation data for approximately 300 genes that
are involved mainly in monogenic diseases. Forty-two genes are cancer-related
and therefore a separate cancer database named KMcancerDB was constructed.
MutationView/KMcancerDB utilizes a graphic display function for both
queries and search results much more often than other existing databases,
making the system quite user friendly. MutationView/KMcancerDB provides
a highly sophisticated search function for all genes through a single
internet URL. In the present paper, we briefly review various useful
databases for cancer-related genes, and describe MutationView/KMcancerDB
in more detail.