Biobanks in Translational Cancer Research

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• Biobanks in Translational Cancer Research

Julio E. Celis Danish Centre for Translational
Breast Cancer Research (DCTB) Danish Cancer
Society
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Mission

• To support and conduct research for the benefit
  of the patient

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Developments that Placed Biobanks at the Centre
of Cancer Research

• The sequencing of the human genome and the
  explosion of new high-throughput technologies
  (Omics)
• Cancer research is slowly shifting from the study
  of cell lines to the analysis of clinically
  relevant samples (tissues and biofluids)
• The advent of dicovery-driven translational
  research

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Translational Cancer Research

• Scientific, technology and science policy issues

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Stakeholdersin Translational Research
Ethical, legal, and social issues
Society
Biobanks rDNA repositories Antibody
collections Genomic databases
Basic scientists Clinicians Epidemiologists
IP issues
Infrastructures
Industry
National versus European programmes Long-term
funding Sustainability
Science policy makers Funding agencies
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We need a vision for cancer research in Europe in
order to move from a reactive to a pro-active
position
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EUROCANPLUS

• EurocanPlus will define excisting needs as well
  as barriers to collaboration in cancer research
• It will be the largest consultation in cancer
  conducted in the EU and will involve all the
  stakeholders
• It will provide a Forum for consultation with the
  scientific community and the industry
• It will identify areas where lack of coordination
  and funding is detrimental for progress

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• Biobanks from the Perspectives of
  Discovery-driven Translational Breast Cancer
  Research (DCTB)

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DCTB A Multidisciplinary Approach to Breast
Cancer Research
Genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics
Fund raising Marketing, Communication
Institute of Cancer Biology Cell
cycle Apoptosis Invasion and metastasis Anti-estro
gens Genetics and immunology Proteomics in cancer
Surgeons, oncologists, pathologists
Industry collaboration
DBCG-Biobank, Clinical inform.
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Aims

• Biomarkers for early detection
• Identification of pre-malignant lesions
  (chemoprevention)
• Biomarkers for patient estratification and
  response to treatment

Discovery on prospective samples and validation
on archival material fro patients with a
long-tem follow up
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Application of multiple omic platforms to the
analysis of fresh tissue samples obtained from
the same patient
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Integration of Biological and Clinical Data In
Relational Databases
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Near Fluids
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Biobanks Science and Technology Issues

• Type of samples (tissues, fluids, nucleic acids,
  proteins, tissue arrays)
• Sample collection, handling, storage, and
  distribution
• Choice of core technologies and standardization
  of sample preparation.
• Flexibility to accommodate technology
  developments
• Reference pathology and pathological quality
  control
• Bioinformatics. Database development and datasets

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Flow of Genetic Information

• DNA (Genomics)
• mRNAs (Transcriptomics)

Proteins (Proteomics)
System Biology
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Technologies and Resources
Gel-based (2D PAGE) proteomics in combination
with MS
Non-gel based proteomics (LC/MS/MS)
Bioinformatics
Tissue arrays
Protein and antibody chips
Technologies and Resources
Protein/ macromolecule interactions
Genomics mutations, methylation analysis, CGH,
genotyping
Transcriptomics cDNA arrays

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Sample Preparation for Proteomics
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Biobanks Other Issues

• Ethical and legal issue for sharing specimens
• Access and priorities
• Relation with other infrastructures (antibody and
  rDNA repositories)
• Funding and substainability

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Conclusions

• Europe has found a niche in Biobanks, and must
  take the lead as these resources are not
  available at the same level in other parts of the
  world
• We must make biobanks a political object
• We must colaborate with the industry, as their
  competitiveness depends on the access to these
  infrastructures
• Danish Cancer Society, The Danish Medical
  ResearchCouncil, Novo, The John and Birthe Meyer
  Foundation, The European Union