Breakthrough in cancer study: IIT Madras maps genomic variants in Indian patients
According to IIT Madras Director, V Kamakoti, despite having a high cancer incidence, India has been under-represented in global cancer genome studies
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
Indian Institute of Technology, 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.
IIT Madras initiated the cancer genome programme
IIT Madras initiated the cancer genome programme"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.
"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.
Kamakoti informed that the 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.
Centre of Excellence on Cancer Genomics and Molecular Therapeutics, IIT Madras.
IIT Madras in collaboration with Karkinos Healthcare, Mumbai, the 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.
"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.
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