COSMIC

COSMIC (Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer) is the world's most detailed and comprehensive resource for exploring the impact of somatic mutations in human cancer. Developed and maintained through rigorous expert curation, COSMIC serves as the gold standard database for somatic mutation information, drawing on data from more than 28,000 peer-reviewed publications and covering over 1.4 million cancer samples. It is designed for researchers, clinicians, and bioinformaticians working in oncology, translational research, precision medicine, and clinical trial design.

COSMIC goes beyond coding mutations to encompass all major genetic mechanisms by which somatic mutations drive cancer, including non-coding mutations, gene fusions, copy-number variants, and drug-resistance mutations. The database has been cited more than 10,000 times and contains genome-wide screen data from more than 38,000 genomes and over 38 million somatic mutations, making it an indispensable reference for the cancer research community.

Core Database and Complementary Datasets

• Core COSMIC Database: Access, download, and mine data from over 1.4 million cancer samples and more than 38 million somatic coding mutations.
• Cancer Gene Census: An in-depth catalogue of all 723 genes causally implicated in cancer, including descriptions of their biological functions and the genetic mechanisms by which they drive cancer.
• Cancer Mutation Census: Provides information on the mutation significance of all coding mutations, drawing on biological and biochemical information from multiple sources.
• Mutation Actionability in Precision Oncology (Actionability): Delivers up-to-date information about drugs targeting specific somatic mutations at all stages of clinical development.
• Cell Lines Project: Presents cell line omics data through systematic characterisation of the genetics and genomics — including alterations and gene expression — of 1,020 cancer cell lines.

Key Features

• Cited more than 10,000 times in scientific literature
• Curated knowledge from more than 28,000 peer-reviewed publications
• Genome-wide screen data from more than 38,000 genomes
• More than 38 million somatic mutations catalogued
• Covers coding mutations, non-coding mutations, gene fusions, copy-number variants, and drug-resistance mutations
• Data carefully selected, collected, and standardised through manual curation by scientific experts, ensuring high quality, accuracy, and descriptive data capture

Applications

• Discover potential drug targets and biomarkers for cancer research and development
• Improve cohort selection for clinical trials
• Identify driver mutations and relevant genes to support patient diagnosis
• Contextualise detected biomarkers using complementary datasets such as Actionability and Cancer Mutation Census

Data Access and Workflow Integration

• COSMIC data are available as downloadable files ready to integrate into existing pipelines and bioinformatics tools
• Subscribers receive access to all updates released during the one-year subscription period
• Access to a dedicated support team is included with subscription
• Licensing options are available for non-profit organisations engaged in patient testing as well as for commercial organisations

COSMIC is intended for molecular biology applications and is not intended for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of disease. It is distributed through QIAGEN and is suitable for a broad range of life sciences organisations seeking a rigorously curated, comprehensive somatic mutation resource to underpin cancer research and precision oncology workflows.