In the absence of genomic architecture of cancers prevalent in India, specific genetic variants from Indian cancers are not adequately captured and catalogued for any diagnostic kits and drug development
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT),
Madras on Monday launched a first-of-its-kind cancer genome database to help
research on the disease in the country.
According to IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti,
despite having a high cancer incidence, India has been under-represented in
global cancer genome studies.
In the absence of genomic architecture of
cancers prevalent in India, specific genetic variants from Indian cancers are
not adequately captured and catalogued for any diagnostic kits and drug
development.
“In order to fill the gap in the genomic
landscape for different cancers in India, IIT Madras initiated the cancer
genome programme in 2020. Under this programme, 960 whole exome sequencing from
480 breast cancer patient tissue samples collected across the country has been
completed.
“We are releasing yet another
health-related data, the second this academic year, the cancer genome data
after brain data. We hope that this will provide deep insights on reasons
leading to this deadly disease and help prevent the same with early
interventions,” he said.
Kamakoti informed that Bharat Cancer
Genome Atlas (BCGA) will fill the gap in the genomic landscape from 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 said.
IIT Madras in collaboration with Karkinos
Healthcare, Mumbai, Chennai Breast Clinic and Cancer Research and Relief Trust,
Chennai analysed the data and assembled the anonymised summary of genetic
variants from Indian breast cancer samples.
The research was led by the institute’s
Centre of Excellence on Cancer Genomics and Molecular Therapeutics, which was
funded under the central government’s “Institutions of Eminence” initiative.
“This database will be an invaluable
resource to identify cancer-specific biomarkers in India, which will enable
early detection of breast cancers. Further, it will also be very useful to
identify novel drug targets for developing better treatment strategies specific
to the Indian population,” S Mahalingam, head, Centre of Excellence on Cancer
Genomics and Molecular Therapeutics, IIT Madras.
“BCGA also aims to host data from
researchers working on cancer genomics across cancer types and would be open to
accepting submissions. The data will be utilised towards identifying biomarkers
to identify high-risk groups, monitor cancer progression, design strategies for
personalised treatment and understand treatment outcomes,” he added.
Mahalingam explained that the genome
database also provides knowledge on the genetic basis of cancer progression and
evolution and may help the biomedical research and healthcare system in India
shift toward a vision of “personalised medicine” which may improve the standard
of medical care by including an individual’s genetic and molecular information
in the clinical decision-making process.
A recent Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR) report indicated that the number of people living with cancer
continues to rise.
The National Cancer Registry Programme
reported that one in nine persons in India are likely to develop cancer in
their lifetime and 14,61,427 persons were currently living with cancer. There
is a 12.8 per cent increase in cancer incidence every year since 2022.
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