SOUTH WESTERN SYDNEY AREA
HEALTH SERVICE
LIVERPOOL HOSPITAL
CANCER THERAPY CENTRE
A project of the Cancer Research Laboratories, Liverpool
Hospital and
The University of New South Wales.
Colorectal Tumour Bank,
Cancer Research Laboratories,
Health Service Building Level 4,
Liverpool Hospital,
Locked Bag 7103,
Liverpool, NSW 1871, Australia.
Telephone: +61 2 98284961 or pager (no. 25511)
or via Liverpool Hospital Switch +61 2 9828300 Fax: +61 2 98284970
Location
The Colorectal Tumour Bank is situated within the Cancer Research Laboratories in the Department of Medicine, Liverpool Hospital, University of New South Wales. The facility is located on the 4th floor of the Health Service Building at Liverpool Hospital.
What is The Colorectal Tumour Bank?
The Human Colorectal Tumour Bank of the Cancer Research Laboratories, Liverpool Hospital, is an active research facility which collects, categorizes and stores samples from human tumours of the colon and rectum. As well as tumour specimens, matched samples from the same individual of peripheral blood, normal bowel (adjacent to but not involved with tumour) and any polyps, lymph node and distant metastases are collected. Clinical data regarding the type and stage of cancer, the ethnicity of the patient, a personal or family history of cancer, and status at last followup is also collected and regularly updated. The Tumour Bank has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the SWSAHS.
The Tumour Bank is an invaluable source of human material that can be used in the study of the causes of colorectal cancer and its biological behaviour.
Stated Aim
To establish an ongoing facility to collect in an organised and ethical manner benign and malignant human colorectal tumours and matched samples of human blood, in order that this tissue be used for research into the molecular and cell biology aspects of the disease. The establishment of a formal Tumour Bank in the South Western Area Health Service (SWSAHS) is a deliberate move to boost research within the Area and to promote the health of the local population, as well as in the wider Australian community. The Colorectal Tumour Bank should also be viewed as a valuable resource for the future, when it is likely that diagnostic testing of various molecular markers will become an established part of routine clinical practice.
How are the samples collected?
Written informed consent is obtained from the patient prior to surgery (see attached Information Sheet and Consent Form). Once the specimen has been resected, it is not placed in formalin but instead is taken directly to the Department of Anatomical Pathology at SWAPS (The South Western Sydney Area Pathology Service). The average transit time is 15-30 minutes. A small fragment (up to 5 mm) is given to the Tumour Bank Coordinator. The piece of tissue taken in no way should interfere with material needed for diagnosis and no extra tissue is taken at surgery than would routinely be resected.
Blood samples are taken at the time of routine venepuncture.
How are the samples stored?
The fresh tissue is placed into small tubes and snap frozen in liquid nitrogen. The tissue is stored at -70O or in liquid nitrogen. All specimens are stored deidentified, ie without names. The means of identification is through a Tumour Bank Number. This means that the researchers who use the samples to study bowel cancer do not know any part of the identity of the person from whom they came.
Clinical data and the location of specimens are recorded in the Tumour Bank database. This password-protected and only accessible to the Head of the Laboratory and the Senior Scientist.
What happens to the samples?
The samples remain stored until they are used in a research project that has Ethics approval of the administering institution. Currently, samples are being used in studies at the Cancer Research Laboratories, Liverpool Hospital. However, samples in the Tumour Bank are available to any researcher who can demonstrate a proposal with sufficient scientific or clinical merit, local Ethics Committee approval, and a source of funding.
DNA and RNA are extracted from tumour sections after the tumour cells are microdissected from slides, to minimise contamination from normal tissue. It is anticipated that in this way tumour will account for more than 90% of the tissue processed.
Position Statement regarding Ethical Considerations
The following principles are strictly adhered to:
1. Tissue collected by the Tumour Bank must in no way compromise the diagnosis or management of the patient.
2. Prior to the use of any samples in studies that specifically link research findings to corresponding clinical data, written consent is required from the patient.
3. No scientific data obtained in the above studies will be used to influence the management of individual patients. In the circumstance of a test becoming available in clinical practice that could be performed to directly benefit individual patients, tests would only be performed on request and informed consent would be sought on a case-by-case basis.
The basis of these guidelines are the documents: The National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans (NHMRC); the NHMRC Statement on Human Experimentation and Supplementary Notes-1992; the Guidelines for Investigators Conducting Experimentation/research Involving Human Subjects issued by the SWSAHS and the Charter of Operation of the South Western Sydney Area Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee.
Provision of samples for external researchers
Samples will be provided on application to external researchers who fulfill the following criteria
1. A formal research proposal regarding use of the tumour material is submitted to the Colorectal Tumour Bank.
2. The proposal is considered to be scientifically rigorous and worthwhile.
3. Samples will be supplied with the Tumour Bank Number and associated clinical information but no identifying information will be issued.
4. Sample components (DNA or RNA) rather than frozen whole samples will be issued.
5. Where possible, collaborative projects with the Csncer Research Laboratories at Liverpool Hospital will be sought, rather than the straight provision of tumour material.
6. Applicants must read the 'Conditions of Use of Tumour Bank Samples' (see later), and sign the Tumour Bank Collaborative Research Form (see later), thereby adhering to the ethical standards of the Tumour Bank and ensuring appropriate acknowledgement of the source of material.
7. A fee covering the cost of preparation consumables and transport is payable.
8. Initial enquiries should be forwarded by email or regular mail to the contact addresses listed on this page.
Conditions of Tumour Bank Sample Use
Samples from the Colorectal Tumour Bank at Liverpool Hospital are provided free of charge with the intention of facilitating research into cancer. The samples must be used in the manner described in the application as provided to the Tumour Bank. Any change in the project direction must be communicated in writing to the Tumour Bank who reserve the right to withdraw support. Samples must not be given or sold to other investigators, nor used to produce commercial products.
Samples are provided without revealing the patient's name, date of birth or any other identifying features. Clinical data such as type of tumour, grade and survival status can be provided if requested.
While samples are not stored from patients with known HIV, Tuberculosis or Hepatitis B, the screening of patients for the presence of such pathogens is not routine. All samples should be handled as a biohazard, with the utmost care to prevent infection with pathogens. No responsibility will be taken by the Tumour Bank for injury or illness that may occur to staff handling the samples.
There is no charge for the provision of specimens by the Tumour Bank, however the costs of preparing,packaging and transport of the specimens will be borne by the individual requesting the samples.
The Investigator/s are required to provide an annual report indicating the percentage of samples which have provided useful information, whether the study is still continuing, and the anticipated date of study completion. It is not expected that the results of investigations be revealed. At the completion of the study, any remaining material should be returned to the Tumour Bank for use by others.
Depending upon the extent of contribution of the Tumour Bank to the project, the external investigators will be required to either acknowledge the Tumour Bank in any publications or presentations resulting from work on Tumour Bank samples, or enter into a collaboration with the appropriate Tumour Bank staff. This will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
A copy of any publications resulting from use of Tumour Bank samples should be forwarded to the Tumour Bank.
© Copyright 2002 - Cancer Therapy Centre, Liverpool Hospital, SWSAHS
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Last modified: Tuesday, 8 July 2003