India Launches First Cancer Multi-Omics Data Portal

The Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA) has launched an innovative cancer data portal 'multi-omics data portal' specifically for India, providing open access to clinically correlated information from Indian cancer patients. This resource aims to assist researchers and clinicians in developing personalized treatment protocols.

Currently, the platform includes data from 50 breast cancer patients, with plans to expand to over 500 patients within the next year.

The data is freely available to the global research community in accordance with India's PRIDE guidelines, which foster ethical sharing and collaboration in cancer research.

Open Access to Cancer Data in India:

The ICGA claims this is India's first platform providing open access to data from Indian cancer patients. This initiative aims to revolutionise cancer research and treatment for Indian populations. Historically, treatments in India have relied on Western data sets, which may not accurately reflect the molecular differences in Indian patients. The ICGA's mission is to create datasets specific to India. This will aid researchers and clinicians in developing personalised treatment protocols. The multi-omics portal is the first in India to offer comprehensive data, including DNA, RNA, and protein profiles of breast cancer patients, integrated with clinical outcomes.

"The ICGA's mission is to create Indian-specific datasets to help researchers and clinicians develop personalized treatment protocols. The ICGA cancer multi-omics portal is the first in India to offer data that includes DNA, RNA, and protein profiles of breast cancer patients, integrated with clinical outcomes," the statement said.

Professor Shekhar C Mande, Former DG-CSIR, currently a Senior Professor at Savitribai Phule Pune University said, "Making this invaluable cancer data publicly accessible marks a pivotal step in accelerating scientific discoveries and enhancing patient outcomes.

"By openly sharing this data, we are empowering researchers, clinicians, and innovators to collaborate, explore new frontiers, and drive transformative breakthroughs in cancer treatment." In a joint statement, Dr JC Zenklusen, Director of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) at the NCI, USA, and Professor Sunil Badve of University School of Medicin, Georgia, USA, urged others with similar data to actively contribute to ICGA, so this initiative can grow even faster and drive greater.

"Fifteen years ago, when we launched TCGA, we could not have foreseen the remarkable progress cancer research would make. Understanding the genome of cancer patients will improve the treatment of Indians not only in India but also worldwide," they said in a joint statement.

Dr Anand Deshpande, Chairman and Managing Director at Persistent, and Non-Executive Director at ICGA said it was an "excellent start with this groundbreaking multi-omics cancer portal".

"Cancer touches all of us, and the need for more effective, personalised treatments, specially tailored to the unique genetic and environmental factors in India, is urgent.

"This portal will empower researchers with crucial data to advance customized cancer research for better treatment outcomes. I encourage everyone to contribute and support this vital cause, helping us accelerate progress in the fight against cancer," Despande said The Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA) is a national initiative focused on mapping the genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic landscapes of cancers across India.