India-Specific Cancer Genomics Data Released for Global Research

The portal, unveiled recently, currently features genomic data from 50 breast cancer patients, with plans to expand this dataset to 500 patients.

A consortium of leading Indian hospitals and research institutes has launched a portal offering India-specific cancer genomics data, with an initial dataset focused on breast cancer patients.

The initiative, spearheaded by the India Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA) Foundation, aims to enhance global cancer research and improve the efficacy of cancer treatments for Indian patients.

The portal, unveiled recently, currently features genomic data from 50 breast cancer patients, with plans to expand this dataset to 500 patients.

The foundation also intends to pool and share data on other types of cancer in the future, creating a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians worldwide.

India's Cancer Research Gap

Despite India accounting for nearly 20% of the world’s population, Indian data represents only 0.2% of global cancer research.

This gap has led to inefficacies in the treatment of Indian cancer patients, as many drugs developed based on Western datasets fail to work effectively for them.

“Cancers can differ significantly at the molecular level, and many drugs don’t work well on Indian patients,” said Suveera Dhup, Chief Operating Officer of the ICGA Foundation.

According to the Foundation, India-specific cancer genomics data will help in the development of more tailored, personalized treatment protocols for Indian patients, moving away from the one-size-fits-all approach reliant on Western data.

The ICGA consortium includes prestigious institutions such as Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, Adyar Cancer Institute in Chennai, AIIMS Nagpur, Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Bengaluru, National Centre for Biological Sciences in Bengaluru, and several Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER).

These institutions are collaborating to create a robust dataset that will provide critical insights into the genetic variations driving cancer in the Indian population.

Understanding Indian Cancer Genomics

Cancer is a complex disease often caused by genetic mutations, which vary among different population groups. Understanding these mutations in Indian patients is essential to improving cancer treatment outcomes.

"We need to understand what mutations are causing cancer in the Indian population," said Dr Shekhar Mande, former Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

The ICGA project involves collecting cancer cells from Indian patients, conducting genetic analyses, and making the resulting data publicly available through the portal.

The dataset includes DNA, RNA, and protein profiles from breast cancer patients, integrated with their clinical outcomes.

Rapid Data Availability

Further, the ICGA aims to make data available within three weeks of sample collection.

The project takes precautions to ensure ethical compliance, collecting samples with patient consent and institutional ethics board approval. Reportedly, data will be shared only after being vetted by a scientific panel to prevent misuse.

Once the breast cancer dataset is complete, the foundation plans to expand its efforts to include lung cancer data.

This initiative aligns with similar global efforts, such as the US National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Cancer Genome Atlas program, which has greatly contributed to cancer research worldwide.

Global experts have praised the ICGA initiative, highlighting its potential to advance cancer treatment for Indian patients both within the country and globally.

JC Zenklusen, Director of The Cancer Genome Atlas at NIH, and Sunil Badve, Vice Chair of Pathology Cancer Programs at Emory University School of Medicine, expressed support for the initiative, encouraging others to contribute their data to further drive breakthroughs.

"Understanding the genome of cancer patients will improve the treatment of Indians not only in India but also worldwide," Zenklusen and Badve said in a joint statement, calling for greater participation to accelerate the initiative's growth and impact.

By fostering collaboration and focusing on India-specific cancer data, the ICGA Foundation hopes to bridge the gap in cancer research, ultimately leading to better, more effective treatments for Indian cancer patients.

Stay tuned for more such updates on Digital Health News