The Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA) has launched India’s first cancer data portal that collects various types of data to help cancer research.
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- Purpose: To provide open access to clinically relevant data from Indian cancer patients, aimed at improving cancer research and treatment tailored to the Indian population.
- Significance: Traditional cancer treatments in India have relied on data from Western populations. However, cancer characteristics can vary significantly at the molecular level for Indian patients.
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Key Features of the Portal
- First in India: This is India’s first Cancer Multi-Omics Data Portal which provides detailed information about breast cancer patients, including genetic data.
- Built on cBioPortal: The portal uses the cBioPortal platform, which connects it with global cancer research efforts.
What is Multi-Omics?
- Multi-omics is a comprehensive approach in biology that combines data from various “omics” fields to better understand biological processes.
Key “Omics” Fields
- Genomics: Focuses on the complete set of DNA in an organism, including all its genes.
- Transcriptomics: Studies all the RNA molecules expressed in a cell, tissue, or organism, providing insights into gene activity.
- Epigenomics: Examines epigenetic changes, which are modifications in gene expression that do not change the DNA sequence itself.
- Proteomics: Investigates the interactions, functions, and structures of proteins, and how they affect cellular activities.
Importance of Multi-Omics
- Holistic Understanding: By integrating data from these different fields, multi-omics offers a more complete view of biological processes, leading to better insights into health and disease.
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- Initial Data Set: The portal starts with data from 50 Indian patients, including DNA, RNA, and protein profiles, along with their treatment histories.
- The goal is to expand this to 500 patients within a year.
- Free to Access: The portal is open to all researchers for free, following responsible data-sharing guidelines.
- Personalised Treatments: This project aims to create tailored cancer treatments specifically for Indian patients.
About the Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA)
- ICGA focuses on mapping the genetic and protein information of cancers across India.
- It is a not-for-profit organisation supported by public, private, and philanthropic partnerships, with help from over 50 experts.
- Mission: The aim is to improve how cancer is diagnosed and treated in India and to contribute to the global understanding of cancer.
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Status of Cancer
- Global Statistics:
- In 2022, around 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide, resulting in 670,000 deaths.
- Impact in India:
- In 2022, India projected 1,461,427 new cancer cases, with a crude incidence rate of 100.4 per 100,000 people (As per ICMR)
- Lifetime Risk: About one in nine people in India is expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
- Most Common Cancers: Lung cancer is the most prevalent among males, while breast cancer is the leading type for females.
- Childhood Cancers: For children aged 0-14 years, lymphoid leukemia is the most common, making up 29.2% in boys and 24.2% in girls.
- Contributing Factors to Rising Cancer Cases
- Lifestyle Changes: Factors such as tobacco and alcohol use, along with environmental influences and genetic predispositions, contribute to the increasing cancer rates.
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September 30, 2024
