The Minister of Science and Technology has recently inaugurated the 2nd TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) 2020 Conference in New Delhi. The purpose of this conference is to gather scientists and clinicians from around the world to contribute to the construction of the Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA). This article sheds light on the details of ICGA, TCGA, other similar missions, common types of cancer, and government initiatives for prevention and control of such diseases.
The Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA)
The ICGA aims to establish a comprehensive, indigenous, and open-source database of molecular profiles of all types of cancer common in the Indian population. The diverse molecular mechanisms, including genetic and lifestyle factors, significantly contribute to cancer development, hence posing substantial challenges for treatment. Thus, it becomes crucial to gain a deeper understanding of these underlying factors on a patient-to-patient basis.
About The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)
The TCGA is a landmark cancer genomics program that has molecularly characterised over 20,000 primary cancer and matched normal samples spanning 33 cancer types since its initiation in 2006. Genomics intends to sequence, assemble, and analyse the genome, which is all genetic material of an organism, consisting of DNA (or RNA in RNA viruses). The TCGA, a joint effort between the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), has generated plenty of genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data, leading to advancements in diagnosing, treating, and preventing cancer.
Indian Cancer Genomics Atlas (ICGA): An Initiative
The establishment of an ‘Indian Cancer Genomics Atlas (ICGA)’ has been initiated by a consortium led by the Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research. Several government agencies, cancer hospitals, academic institutions, and private sectors are partners in this initiative.
Other Genome-Related Missions
The ‘Genome India’ project aims to form a grid of the Indian “reference genome”, to understand the diverse nature of diseases and traits in the Indian population. It plans to collect 10,000 samples from across India in its first phase. The ‘IndiGen Genome Project’, implemented by the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Delhi, and CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, seeks to conduct whole genome sequencing of thousands of individuals representing different ethnic groups in India.
About Cancer
Cancer is a group of diseases that occur when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably beyond their usual boundaries, invade neighbouring parts of the body, or spread to other organs. This process is called metastasizing and is a major cause of death from cancer. Lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach, and liver cancer are the most common types of cancer in men, while breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, and thyroid cancer are more frequent among women.
Government Initiative for Prevention and Control of Cancer
The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) is being implemented under the National Health Mission (NHM). This program educates and works towards prevention and control of such diseases up to the district level.
