Project for collecting Fresh Cancer Tissue Samples

In July 2020, FICAN South launched a project for the collection of fresh cancer tissue samples. The goal of the project was to improve the treatment and the disease prognosis of cancer patients by collecting fresh frozen samples of cancer tumors more systematically than before. The project has ended in December 2021 and fresh sample collection has become part of the normal operations. The number of fresh samples is still being monitored and about 120 samples are collected every month in 2022. During 2021, more than 700 fresh samples were collected at HUS.

A fresh sample is a frozen piece of tissue from a tumor that is taken during cancer surgery.

Fresh samples are mostly used in research and in the development of new individual medical treatments. Fresh samples are also used as part of patient diagnostics when choosing the best treatment option. For research use, a biobank consent or a separate research consent is required from the patient.

All cancer treatment units at HUS participated in the project, the Pathology unit at HUS Diagnostic Center, Helsinki Biobank, and iCAN, a joint research project of the University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital, in which new treatment targets are identified and the aim is to improve treatment through individual cancer profiling. The sample collection will be continued for the benefit of patients among the FINPROVE, a DRUP-like clinical trial for the individualized cancer treatment.

 

Contact information:

Anne Kairenius
Project manager
anne.kairenius@hus.fi