The ICGA Data Visualization Platform

The ICGA offers a cutting-edge platform that provides a detailed, integrative view of the genetic, molecular, and clinical profiles of cancer in India. Our data visualization platform, powered by cBioPortal, enables researchers to explore and analyze genomic data, starting with a focused study on Indian breast cancer patients.

About the ICGA Portal

The ICGA Portal offers researchers a powerful gateway to explore comprehensive, processed genomic data for molecular and clinical analysis. Built on the trusted cBioPortal framework, it enables intuitive access to cancer genomic datasets curated by the Indian Cancer Genome Atlas. The development of the ICGA Portal was made possible through the generous philanthropic support of Strand Life Sciences Ltd.

introduction to ICGA Data Portal

Data Availability and Ethical Compliance

The ICGA is committed to adhering to ethical data-sharing practices. The datasets available through the ICGA portal are limited to somatic mutations only. This restriction is a result of ethical approvals that ensure patient privacy and compliance with responsible data-use guidelines.

To uphold these standards, ICGA has utilized analysis pipelines that specifically focus on somatic mutations, avoiding the analysis of germline mutations. This ensures that inherited genetic data, which could potentially impact patient privacy, is not included in the research.

Study Title: ICGA Breast Cancer Cohort

The ICGA Breast Cancer Cohort represents a significant initiative aimed at understanding the molecular landscape of breast cancer among Indian patients. This study includes tumor tissue, adjacent normal tissue as control, and associated clinical data from patients across India. All participants were treatment-naive, aged between 18 and 75 years, and underwent whole-genome sequencing at a depth of 70X [+/-5], along with RNA sequencing and proteomics analysis. Control samples from breast-adjacent normal tissues are included for each patient.

Metadata of the ICGA’s cohort on breast cancer patients

Data Access

Please refer to ICGA Data Policy and DBT PRIDE guidelines to understand terms and conditions of access. Researchers interested in accessing the ICGA data should follow the given instructions. The submitted applications will be reviewed by the ICGA Data Access Committee (DAC). Incomplete applications will not be considered.

  1. ICGA data would be made available in the ICGA portal. 
  2. Any attempt to re-identify the individual whose data has been collected is not allowed.
  3. The authorized users cannot share the data with unauthorized parties.
  4. Any secondary data generated from the accessed data shall be submitted back to ICGA Portal. 
  5. The users should acknowledge ICGA in all oral and written presentations, disclosures, and publications resulting from any analyses of the ICGA data. The following format may be used for this purpose: The results here are in whole or in part based upon data generated by the ICGA Network.

To request access to ICGA data, please follow the two-step process outlined below:

Step 1: Stage 1 Form

At this stage, you are expected to provide:

  • A scientific research proposal, 
  • Study investigators and research team with clear roles and responsibilities. 
  • A data safety and management plan with funding information, 
  • Conflict of interest, 
  • Timelines, and 
  • Plans for ethical approvals. 

Stage 1 Form for data access request is available here.

Step 2: Stage 2 Submission
If your proposal is provisionally approved by ICGA’s Data Access Committee, you will be asked to submit following:

  • A Revised and detailed proposal, 
  • Institutional ethical approvals, undertakings, etc.
  • Training of investigators (for example, any certifications), etc.

Full and final approval will be followed by the signing of a data sharing agreement with ICGA.

ICGA Data, Resources, and Materials

ICGA is dedicated to advancing cancer research through an extensive process that involves:

  • Collecting diverse biospecimen and clinical metadata
  • Generating molecular analytes for detailed characterization
  • Applying advanced sequencing and molecular characterization methods
  • Providing accessible data for the research community

Requests for Biological Samples and Materials

Due to legal and ethical considerations, the ICGA is unable to accommodate requests for biological samples, analytes, or tissue materials. All cases within the ICGA program have been consented exclusively for ICGA use, and the redistribution of materials to outside parties is prohibited. Additionally, the majority of tissue samples have been depleted due to the multiple assays performed for ICGA research.

Citing ICGA in Your Work

Researchers utilizing ICGA data in their studies should acknowledge the ICGA Network. A citation example:

“The results [published or shown] here are in whole or in part based upon data generated by the ICGA Network: https://icga.in, https://icga.net.in.”

ICGA Data Portal