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Biological Resources

The biological resources acquired from tumour, peritumour and non-tumour samples taken as part of providing healthcare are invaluable tools for diagnosis and therapeutic referral as well as research. In oncology, these biological resources (biological tissues, cells or fluids) are stored and preserved in tumour collection facilities, called tumour banks. The roughly sixty tumour banks in France receive annual funding for support and organisation on the initiative of the DHOS. Since 2004, in accordance with the measures specified in the Cancer Plan, INCa has been responsible for monitoring the activities of the tumour banks. In addition to this task INCa is firmly committed to promoting the scientific evaluation of high quality biological resources together with exhaustive clinical data standardised according to research project inclusion criteria.
Some examples of biological resources would be:

• Tumour tissue or healthy tissue

• Malignant cells or normal lymphocytes

• Biological fluids (blood, serum, plasma, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, etc.)

• Nucleic acids (DNA, RNA)

These biological resources must be preserved, i.e. kept in conditions that maintain tissue, cell and molecular structural integrity to the greatest extent possible. Cryopreservation is the primary method in use, due to its high quality. This involves freezing down to between – 20°C and – 196°C, depending on the nature of the biological resources in question. Other less complex methods of preservation, such as embedding tissue in a block of paraffin, also enable extraction of DNA for biomolecular analysis.
Biological resources are key elements in the advancement of biomedical research. Currently, technologies for the discovery and validation of new biomarkers require increasingly detailed and complex characterisations in order to associate patient profiles (genetic, environmental and social factors) with physiological and molecular characteristics. These studies should further our understanding of how molecules work and malfunction and as far as possible lead to solutions for screening and early diagnosis while also making ‘personalised’ therapies more effective.

Documents pratiques et modèles

•  Fiche de description de projet et expression de besoin en ressources biologiques (22.44 kB)
•  Formulaire d'abscence d'opposition du patient (15.74 kB)
•  Formulaire de consentement du patient (16.14 kB)
•  Formulaire accord de transfert de matériel (13.45 kB)

 

Documents de communication institutionnelle

•  Bilan 2008 et perspectives 2009 des actions pour la valorisation scientifique des ressources biologiques (1.95 MB)
•  Les tumorothèques hospitalières (1.86 MB)

 

Espace de partage de documents

•  Prélèvement et conservation du liquide céphalo-rachidien (108.53 kB)
•  Prélèvement et conservation de l'urine (107.47 kB)
•  Prélèvement et conservation du plasma (88.96 kB)