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New Delhi, September 21, 2024 – The Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA) launched India’s first comprehensive multi-omics data portal on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in cancer research and treatment. The portal, designed to provide open access to clinically correlated data from Indian cancer patients, aims to transform the landscape of cancer treatment by enabling more personalized and effective therapies tailored to the Indian population.
Traditionally, cancer treatments in India have relied on data from Western patients, often overlooking molecular and genetic differences unique to Indian populations. However, cancer in Indian patients can vary significantly at the molecular level, demanding a more localized approach to research and treatment. This new open-access multi-omics portal represents a pivotal shift toward precision medicine, specifically addressing these molecular differences.
“The 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,” stated a spokesperson from ICGA, a non-profit organization leading this initiative.
Currently, the portal contains data from 50 breast cancer patients, with plans to expand the database to include over 500 patients by next year. This wealth of data is freely accessible to the global research community, adhering to India’s PRIDE (Provisions for Research, Innovation, and Development in Ethical sharing) guidelines. The guidelines promote ethical data sharing and collaborative efforts in cancer research across borders.
The platform is built on the internationally recognized cBioPortal platform, ensuring that it seamlessly integrates with global cancer research efforts, allowing researchers worldwide to access and utilize the data for studies that may improve cancer treatments globally.
Dr. Anand Deshpande, Non-Executive Director at ICGA, emphasized the importance of this initiative in addressing India’s unique cancer challenges. “We have made an excellent start with this groundbreaking multi-omics cancer portal. Cancer touches all of us, and the need for more effective, personalized treatments — specially tailored to the unique genetic and environmental factors in India — is urgent,” he said. “This portal will empower researchers with crucial data to advance customized cancer research for better treatment outcomes.”
Cancer remains one of the most pressing health challenges in India. A report from Apollo Hospitals recently dubbed India the “cancer capital of the world,” with an alarming rise in cancer cases. In 2019, India recorded 12 lakh new cancer cases, and by 2022, this number had climbed to 14.6 lakh. The Lancet report highlighted that India ranks second highest in cancer burden across Asia.
Factors like increasing age, pollution, poor diet, and unhealthy lifestyles have been driving the rapid rise in cancer cases in the country. This new data portal could significantly enhance the ability to tailor treatments for patients based on the unique genetic and environmental context of India, ultimately leading to better outcomes.
As the multi-omics data portal expands, it is expected to accelerate research efforts, facilitate collaboration across institutions, and pave the way for more individualized cancer treatments in India, reducing the country’s cancer burden and improving survival rates.
Researchers, clinicians, and the global scientific community are encouraged to engage with this valuable resource and contribute to the fight against cancer in India.
