A genome database has been initiated by IIT Madras, with the objective of aiding cancer research in India. The new resource is anticipated to facilitate access to vital data and advance cancer research.
Cancer is among the most lethal health issues worldwide. A recent report from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) indicated that the number of individuals living with this lethal disease keeps increasing.
The National Cancer Registry Program indicated that one in nine individuals in India is likely to develop cancer during their lifetime, with 14,61,427 people currently living with the disease. The annual rise in cancer incidence since 2022 has been 12.8%.
India, despite its high cancer incidence, has not been adequately represented in global cancer genome studies. Due to the lack of genomic architecture for cancers common in India, specific genetic variants from Indian cancers are not sufficiently included or recorded in diagnostic kits and drug development.
To address the lack of genomic data for various cancers in India, IIT Madras launched the cancer genome programme in 2020. This involves the completion of 960 whole exome sequencing from tissue samples of 480 breast cancer patients collected nationwide.
COLLABORATION WITH KARKINOS HEALTHCARE
In partnership with Karkinos Healthcare from Mumbai, IIT Madras, along with the Chennai Breast Clinic and Cancer Research and Relief Trust in Chennai, conducted a data analysis and compiled an anonymised summary of genetic variants derived from Indian breast cancer samples.
This institute has provided public access to this database at bcga.iitm.ac.in for researchers and clinicians both in India and internationally.
Professor V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, emphasized the advantages of the ‘Bharat Cancer Genome Atlas’ for both India and the worldwide research community, stating, “In line with our commitment to society under ‘IITM for All’, we are making another health-related dataset available—the Cancer Genome data. This is the second such release in this academic year, following that of the Brain Data. We are hopeful that this will yield profound understanding of the causes behind this fatal illness and aid in its prevention through timely action.
“The Atlas fills the gap in the genomic landscape of different cancers in the country. It provides a compendium of genetic variants representing the contemporary Indian breast cancer population to classify variants involved in early diagnostics, disease progression, and treatment outcomes,” he added. The research was led by the Institute’s Centre of Excellence on Cancer Genomics and Molecular Therapeutics, which was funded under the Government of India’s ‘Institutions of Eminence’ initiative.
Additionally, Professor S. Mahalingam, who is also part of the faculty at IIT Madras’s Department of Biotechnology, remarked, “BCGA aims to host data from researchers engaged in cancer genomics across various cancer types and welcomes submissions. The data will be used to identify biomarkers for determining high-risk groups, track cancer progression, develop strategies for personalized treatment, and comprehend treatment outcomes.”
PERSONALISED MEDICINE
This Genome Atlas offers insights into the genetic foundations of cancer progression and evolution. It may assist in steering biomedical research and healthcare in India toward a “personalised medicine” approach, potentially enhancing medical care standards by incorporating an individual’s genetic and molecular data into clinical decision-making.
The analysis was conducted under the auspices of the National Centre for Precision Medicine in Cancer, a collaboration between IIT Madras and Karkinos Healthcare aimed at speeding up interdisciplinary research and the development of cost-effective cancer care solutions.
The Institute expresses its gratitude for the support received from the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, regarding the Cancer Tissue Biobank facility at IIT Madras.
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