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Tumour banks: well-guarded treasures in the interest of patients

Abstract

In order for the genomics revolution to change how we diagnose, categorize and treat cancer, scientists and clinicians must have access to tumour samples. There has therefore never been a better time to create banks of tumour tissue. Collecting and storing tumour samples and their associated data, however, creates numerous methodological, ethical, legal and technical problems. How can we leap these hurdles in a responsible manner and still make full use of the wealth of information that can be obtained from them?

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Correspondence to J. Wolter Oosterhuis.

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DATABASES

LocusLink

ERBB2

c-KIT

FURTHER INFORMATION

Biobank UK, a study of genes, evironment and health

Federation of Medical Scientific societies in the Netherlands

Human Tissue Banking

NCI/National Action Plan for Breast Cancer

Office for Human Research Protections (ORHP) [1993] US Dept of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Public Health Genetics, UK

University of Minnesota Cancer Center Tissue Procurement Facility

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Oosterhuis, J., Coebergh, J. & van Veen, EB. Tumour banks: well-guarded treasures in the interest of patients. Nat Rev Cancer 3, 73–77 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc973

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