There is a lack of in-depth knowledge of the early molecular, cellular, and non-cellular properties that fuel the progression of premalignant lesions to invasive cancers, resulting in a missed opportunity for intervention during this period. The PCA initiative addresses this need by conducting comprehensive characterization of the molecular and cellular features of organ-specific premalignant lesions and their microenvironment, while also capturing the spatial and structural information temporally.

The goal is to construct comprehensive, dynamic, high-resolution, multidimensional, multiparametric, temporal, and scalable atlases of precancerous lesions and their surrounding microenvironment. PCAs will lead to a greater understanding of the biological underpinnings of tumor progression or regression, and drive early detection, risk stratification, and intervention strategies.