Chennai: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has launched India’s first cancer genome database, the Bharat Cancer Genome Atlas (BCGA), to boost cancer research and diagnostics in the country. This initiative addresses the underrepresentation of Indian genetic data in global cancer genome studies, which has limited the development of diagnostic kits and targeted therapies for cancers prevalent in India.
Significance of the Initiative
According to IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti, despite India’s high cancer incidence, its genomic architecture remains largely undocumented in global research. To bridge this gap, IIT Madras initiated the cancer genome programme in 2020, focusing on sequencing cancer genomes specific to the Indian population. Under this programme, researchers have completed 960 whole exome sequencing analyses from 480 breast cancer tissue samples collected across the country.
Highlighting the significance of the launch, Kamakoti stated that the newly released BCGA will provide valuable genetic insights into Indian breast cancer cases, enabling the classification of variants involved in early diagnostics, disease progression, and treatment outcomes. He added that this is the second major health-related dataset released by IIT Madras this academic year, following the brain genome data release.
A Collaborative Effort
The BCGA project was conducted in collaboration with Karkinos Healthcare, Mumbai, Chennai Breast Clinic, and the Cancer Research and Relief Trust, Chennai. Researchers from IIT Madras’ Centre of Excellence on Cancer Genomics and Molecular Therapeutics, funded under the central government’s “Institutions of Eminence” initiative, played a key role in the study.
S. Mahalingam, head of the Centre of Excellence on Cancer Genomics and Molecular Therapeutics, emphasized that the database will serve as an invaluable resource for identifying cancer-specific biomarkers in the Indian population. This will enable early detection of breast cancers and facilitate the discovery of novel drug targets, improving treatment strategies tailored for Indian patients.
Mahalingam further stated that BCGA will serve as a national repository for genomic data and will accept contributions from researchers across different cancer types. The database aims to help in identifying high-risk groups, monitoring cancer progression, designing personalized treatments, and understanding treatment outcomes.
Enhancing Personalised Medical Care
With the launch of this comprehensive genomic database, IIT Madras is paving the way for personalized medicine in India, ensuring that cancer treatment strategies are tailored to individual genetic and molecular profiles, ultimately improving medical care and patient outcomes.
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