Interconnected cancer cells glowing with genetic data, linked to the GEMICCL database.

GEMICCL: Your Go-To Guide for Cancer Cell Line Data with Killer Visuals

Kai Mendoza in Science & Nature August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Unlock the secrets of cancer cell lines with GEMICCL—a comprehensive database packed with genotype, expression data, and interactive visualizations designed for researchers and curious minds alike."

Cancer cell lines are the unsung heroes of biomedical research. They're essential for everything from drug discovery to understanding the intricacies of cancer biology. But finding the right cell line for your specific research needs can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Genotype and expression data? Often scattered and incomplete. That’s where GEMICCL steps in—a game-changer for anyone working with cancer cell lines.

GEMICCL, or Gene Expression and Mutations in Cancer Cell Lines, is an online database designed to streamline your research. Imagine having a single, unified resource where you can access comprehensive genotype and expression information for human cancer cell lines. No more juggling multiple databases or struggling with inconsistent data formats. GEMICCL brings it all together.

This isn't just another database; it's a curated collection of mutation, gene expression, and copy number variation (CNV) data, all sourced from three trusted databases: Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia, Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer, and NCI60. With over 1,400 cell lines spanning nearly 200 cancer types and 30 tissues, GEMICCL is one of the most extensive resources available.

Why GEMICCL is a Must-Have for Cancer Researchers

Interconnected cancer cells glowing with genetic data, linked to the GEMICCL database.

Navigating complex datasets can be a headache. That’s why GEMICCL prioritizes user experience. Whether you're an experienced bioinformatician or just starting, its intuitive web interface makes it easy to search for cell lines, explore gene functions, and pinpoint specific molecular characteristics. Plus, GEMICCL offers powerful query tools based on Boolean logic, allowing you to formulate complex research questions with ease.

Here’s how GEMICCL simplifies cancer cell line research:

Comprehensive Data Integration: GEMICCL harmonizes data from multiple sources (CCLE, COSMIC, and NCI60) into a single, standardized platform, eliminating the need to cross-reference multiple databases.
Batch Effect Removal: Using the ComBat software, GEMICCL removes batch effects from microarray platforms, ensuring reliable and comparable gene expression data.
User-Friendly Interface: Search by cell line, gene, or browse by tissue type and cancer histology. The interface supports complex queries using Boolean logic, allowing precise and tailored searches.
Interactive Visualizations: Explore data through interactive plots and charts, making it easier to identify patterns and relationships within the datasets.
Standardized Data: Cell line names and clinical information are standardized using Cellosaurus from ExPASy, ensuring consistency across the database.

Ready to take a closer look? GEMICCL offers a suite of powerful tools for exploring cancer cell line data:

The Future of Cancer Research is Here

GEMICCL stands out as an invaluable resource for biomedical research. By providing comprehensive molecular characteristics and clinical information in a user-friendly format, it empowers researchers to make informed decisions in their functional or screening studies. Say goodbye to data silos and hello to streamlined research workflows.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1093/database/bay041, Alternate LINK

Title: Gemiccl: Mining Genotype And Expression Data Of Cancer Cell Lines With Elaborate Visualization

Subject: General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Journal: Database

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Authors: Inhae Jeong, Namhee Yu, Insu Jang, Yukyung Jun, Min-Seo Kim, Jinhyuk Choi, Byungwook Lee, Sanghyuk Lee

Published: 2018-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is GEMICCL?

GEMICCL, or Gene Expression and Mutations in Cancer Cell Lines, is an online database. It centralizes genotype, gene expression, and copy number variation (CNV) data from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC), and NCI60, providing a comprehensive resource for human cancer cell lines.

Why is a database like GEMICCL important for cancer research?

The database is essential because it streamlines biomedical research by integrating data from multiple sources. It simplifies the process of finding relevant cell lines for specific research needs, which is crucial for drug discovery and understanding cancer biology. The extensive collection of data enables researchers to make informed decisions, accelerating functional or screening studies.

What are the main features of GEMICCL?

Key features of GEMICCL include data integration, user-friendly interface, and interactive visualizations. It harmonizes data from CCLE, COSMIC, and NCI60. The interface allows searches by cell line or gene, and supports complex queries using Boolean logic. Interactive plots and charts enhance data exploration, while the standardization of data with Cellosaurus ensures consistency.

Where does GEMICCL get its data?

The data within GEMICCL is sourced from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC), and NCI60. These are trusted databases that provide mutation, gene expression, and copy number variation data. The data is curated to provide researchers with reliable and comparable gene expression data by removing batch effects from microarray platforms using the ComBat software.

How does GEMICCL benefit researchers in their work?

GEMICCL empowers researchers by providing a single platform for comprehensive data. It allows the formulation of complex research questions, exploration of gene functions, and pinpointing of specific molecular characteristics. The database supports informed decision-making in functional or screening studies, which helps in streamlining research workflows and eliminating data silos, leading to advancements in cancer research.