What is the tumour bank?
Main tasks of the tumour bank of the Robert-Rössle-Klinik are :
1) |
Collection of surgical specimens from gastroenterological carcinomas,
mammary carcinomas, sarcomas and others. Meanwhile more than 8000
specimens have been collected from these tissues, but also sera which
have been taken during the clinical follow-up, and more than 2000
bone marrow samples. |
2)
|
Documentation
of all samples. For every sample the date base of the tumor bank contains
the histopathological characterization including T,N,M, and so on,
a documentation of the therapy the patient underwent, and data on
survival of the patient. Records are updated frequently. |
3)
|
Processing
of samples for clinical studies. The tumour bank comprises a laboratory,
equipped with a work place for laser-assisted microdissection of cryostat
sections, a workplace for RNA-extraction, labelling and expression
profiling using DNA-microarrays such as Affymetrix GeneChip or spotted
arrays, and workplaces for immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridisation. |
The tumour bank is directly linked to the pathology of the Robert- Rössle- Klinik. This provides an optimally and user adapted asservation, preparation, storage and distribution of tumour- and normal tissue (metastases, benign tumours etc.), blood cells, serums, and bone marrow compounds as well as documentation of the clinical data.
Information concerning patient data is always pseudonymized and stored on a separate stand-alone computer. Nobody, except the clinician treating the patient has access to this personal data.
The establishment of the tumour bank resulted from the cooperation of several scientific groups belonging to the MDC plus external institutions which expressed their demand for human tumour and normal tissue, blood cell- and serum samples for cancer research.
To achieve an optimal saturation of analysis material the tumour bank is arranged in personnel and technical independence from the patient maintenance.
In summary, the tumour bank is a powerful tool for clinical research and works in close cooperation with many research groups on the campus.
Contact and information
PD Dr. W. Kemmner
+49 030-9406-2506
[email protected]
Mrs. I. Wendler
+49 030-9417-1462
[email protected]
Mrs. S. Grigull
[email protected]
Mrs. Nowark
+49 030-9417-1465