What are Biobanks, Samples and Data?
A biobank (“bank of life”) is a container (low temperature freezer unit or liquid nitrogen container) or a place, maintained by designated personnel, specifically for the collection and storage of small human tissue or blood samples and associated data. Tissue samples (frozen and in paraffin blocks) are stored until released for use by approved research groups examining how cancers develop, grow and spread. Significant findings may lead eventually to new tests and better treatments for those with cancer.
When a patient with cancer has an operation to have the cancer removed, the operation specimen – cancer and surrounding normal tissue – is examined by a pathologist. The pathological diagnosis and full pathological assessment of the tumour’s aggressiveness and extent determine further medical treatment for the patient. Providing he/she has consented, small fragments of cancer and normal tissue, surplus to pathology requirements, may be coded, frozen and stored in a biobank for research. Samples are coded for confidentiality and to comply with data protection, and included in the biobank database. Samples – again if surplus to diagnosis – from small diagnostic biopsy specimens, cytology specimens, blood and body fluids may also be banked (SEE DIAGRAM).
Both sample data and pathological data on the patient’s specimen are recorded in a database, and coded for the patient’s privacy and confidentiality. Clinical data, including treatment and follow-up, may be linked subsequently only by the few who know the code.