ChromothripsisDB: A Curated Database for the Documentation, Visualization, and Mining of Chromothripsis Data

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Bioinformatics
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Chromothripsis, a phenomenon of massive genomic rearrangement, is observed in various cancers but its molecular mechanisms remain unclear.
• Existing data on chromothripsis is fragmented across numerous publications, hindering comprehensive analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a centralized, manually curated database of chromothripsis cases.
• To provide a unified resource for genomic aberrations associated with chromothripsis.

Main Methods:

• Manual curation of published literature on chromothripsis.
• Integration of data including copy number alterations, structural variations, and gene annotations.
• Inclusion of criteria used for chromothripsis detection in original studies.

Main Results:

• ChromothripsisDB currently houses data from over 400 patient samples, compiled from more than 100 research articles.
• The database offers a unified description of chromothripsis cases and associated genomic alterations.
• Detailed information on copy number variations, structural variations, and gene annotations is available.

Conclusions:

• ChromothripsisDB serves as a valuable resource for researchers investigating the molecular underpinnings of chromothripsis.
• The database facilitates further studies by providing a large, organized collection of identified chromothripsis samples.
• This resource is crucial for advancing our understanding of chromothripsis in cancer genomics.