<p>Chennai: With an aim to bridge the gap in genomic landscape for different cancers, the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) on Monday released the ‘Bharat Cancer Genome Atlas’ with 960 whole exome sequencing from tissue samples of 480 breast cancer patients. </p><p>The research that began in 2020 was led by the IIT-M’s Centre of Excellence on Cancer Genomics and Molecular Therapeutics and funded under the Union Government’s ‘Institutions of Eminence’ initiative. The IIT-M has made this database public at <a href="http://bcga.iitm.ac.in/">bcga.iitm.ac.in</a> to researchers and clinicians in India and abroad.</p><p>Prof S Mahalingam, Head, Centre of Excellence on Cancer Genomics and Molecular Therapeutics, IIT-M, said the database will be an “invaluable resource” to identify cancer-specific biomarkers in India, which will enable early detection of breast cancers and identify novel drug targets for developing better treatment strategies specific to the Indian population. </p><p>The project was taken up since specific genetic variants from Indian cancers have not been adequately captured and catalogued for any diagnostic kits and drug development.</p>.'His lies damage nation's image abroad': Jaishankar slams Rahul Gandhi over US visit remarks.<p>The data was analysed by the IIT-M in collaboration with Karkinos Healthcare, Mumbai, Chennai Breast Clinic and Cancer Research and Relief Trust, Chennai, who also assembled the anonymized summary of genetic variants from Indian breast cancer samples. </p><p>“The Atlas fills 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,” Prof V Kamakoti, Director, IIT-M said. </p><p>Mahalingam said the atlas also aims to host data from researchers working on cancer genomics across cancer types and would be open to accepting submissions. </p><p> “The data will be utilized towards identifying biomarkers to identify high-risk groups, monitor cancer progression, design strategies for personalized treatment and understand treatment outcomes,” he said.</p><p>The release of the atlas assumes significance in the wake of a recent report by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) report indicating that the number of people living with this deadly disease continues to rise with the National Cancer Registry Program reporting that one in nine people in India are likely to develop cancer in their lifetime. </p><p>As many as 14.61 lakh people in India are currently living with cancer and there is a 12.8 per cent increase in cancer incidence every year since 2022.</p>
<p>Chennai: With an aim to bridge the gap in genomic landscape for different cancers, the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) on Monday released the ‘Bharat Cancer Genome Atlas’ with 960 whole exome sequencing from tissue samples of 480 breast cancer patients. </p><p>The research that began in 2020 was led by the IIT-M’s Centre of Excellence on Cancer Genomics and Molecular Therapeutics and funded under the Union Government’s ‘Institutions of Eminence’ initiative. The IIT-M has made this database public at <a href="http://bcga.iitm.ac.in/">bcga.iitm.ac.in</a> to researchers and clinicians in India and abroad.</p><p>Prof S Mahalingam, Head, Centre of Excellence on Cancer Genomics and Molecular Therapeutics, IIT-M, said the database will be an “invaluable resource” to identify cancer-specific biomarkers in India, which will enable early detection of breast cancers and identify novel drug targets for developing better treatment strategies specific to the Indian population. </p><p>The project was taken up since specific genetic variants from Indian cancers have not been adequately captured and catalogued for any diagnostic kits and drug development.</p>.'His lies damage nation's image abroad': Jaishankar slams Rahul Gandhi over US visit remarks.<p>The data was analysed by the IIT-M in collaboration with Karkinos Healthcare, Mumbai, Chennai Breast Clinic and Cancer Research and Relief Trust, Chennai, who also assembled the anonymized summary of genetic variants from Indian breast cancer samples. </p><p>“The Atlas fills 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,” Prof V Kamakoti, Director, IIT-M said. </p><p>Mahalingam said the atlas also aims to host data from researchers working on cancer genomics across cancer types and would be open to accepting submissions. </p><p> “The data will be utilized towards identifying biomarkers to identify high-risk groups, monitor cancer progression, design strategies for personalized treatment and understand treatment outcomes,” he said.</p><p>The release of the atlas assumes significance in the wake of a recent report by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) report indicating that the number of people living with this deadly disease continues to rise with the National Cancer Registry Program reporting that one in nine people in India are likely to develop cancer in their lifetime. </p><p>As many as 14.61 lakh people in India are currently living with cancer and there is a 12.8 per cent increase in cancer incidence every year since 2022.</p>