Comprehensive review of publicly accessible databases for gastrointestinal cancer and future challenges in database construction

Cancer database is a systematic collection and analysis of various human cancer information at the genomic and molecular levels, which can be used to understand the mechanisms of cancer occurrence and development, and facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is one of the leading causes of incidence and mortality worldwide. The progress and development of high-throughput sequencing technology have led to the emergence of a large amount of cancer-related omics data, such as genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, laying a data foundation for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. These omics data are stored in various databases. Public resources promote the progress of scientific research. High-throughput sequencing technology and the era of big data have created a need for collaboration and data sharing in order to effectively utilize this new knowledge. This article provided comprehensive information on 54 publicly accessible databases containing GI cancer-related information, including 44 general databases and 10 specific databases designed for GI cancer. Moreover, we discussed the challenges faced in the construction of GI cancer database and future research directions. We hope that such an introduction can raise awareness and promote the full and effective utilization of these data resources, thereby improving the management of patients with GI cancer.