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The “North German Tumor Bank of Colorectal Cancer”: status report after the first 2 years of support by the German Cancer Aid Foundation

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Abstract

Purpose

Research projects and clinical trials strongly rely on high-quality biospecimens which are provided by biobanks. Since differences in sample processing and storage can strongly affect the outcome of such studies, standardization between biobanks is necessary to guarantee reliable results of large, multicenter studies. The German Cancer Aid Foundation (Deutsche Krebshilfe e.V.) has therefore initiated the priority program “tumor tissue banks” in 2010 by funding four biobank networks focusing on central nervous system tumors, melanomas, breast carcinomas, and colorectal carcinomas. The latter one, the North German Tumor Bank of Colorectal Cancer (ColoNet) is managed by surgeons, pathologists, gastroenterologists, oncologists, scientists, and medical computer scientists.

Methods and results

The ColoNet consortium has developed and harmonized standard operating procedures concerning all biobanking aspects. Crucial steps for quality assurance have been implemented and resulted in certification according to DIN EN ISO 9001. A further achievement is the construction of a web-based database for exploring available samples. In addition, common scientific projects have been initiated. Thus, ColoNet’s repository will be used for research projects in order to improve early diagnosis, therapy, follow-up, and prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. Apart from the routine sample storage at −170 °C, the tumor banks’ unique characteristic is the participation of outpatient clinics and private practices to further expand the sample and clinical data collection.

Conclusion

The first 2 years of funding by the German Cancer Aid Foundation have already led to a closer scientific connection between the participating institutions and to a substantial collection of biospecimens obtained under highly standardized conditions.

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Acknowledgments

The tumor biobank consortium “North German Tumor Bank of Colorectal Cancer” is generously supported by the German Cancer Aid Foundation (DKH e.V. #108446).

Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany

    Martina Oberländer, Regina Kaatz, Uwe J. Roblick, Hans-Peter Bruch & Jens K. Habermann

  2. Department of General, Thoracic, Vascular and Transplantation Surgery, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany

    Michael Linnebacher, Mathias Krohn & Ernst Klar

  3. Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany

    Alexandra König, Valentina Bogoevska, Christiane Brodersen, Emre F. Yekebas & Jakob R. Izbicki

  4. Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany

    Michael Hackmann & Josef Ingenerf

  5. Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany

    Jan Christoph, Sebastian Mate & Hans-Ulrich Prokosch

  6. Institute of Pathology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany

    Christoph Thorns

  7. Unit of Gastroenterology, Medical Clinic I, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany

    Jürgen Büning

  8. Institute of Pathology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany

    Friedrich Prall

  9. Institute of Pathology, University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany

    Ria Uhlig

  10. Institute for Experimental Surgery and Central Animal Facility, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany

    Brigitte Vollmar

  11. Laboratory for Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, University of Lübeck and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538, Lübeck, Germany

    Jens K. Habermann

Authors
  1. Martina Oberländer
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  2. Michael Linnebacher
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  3. Alexandra König
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  4. Valentina Bogoevska
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  5. Christiane Brodersen
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  6. Regina Kaatz
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  7. Mathias Krohn
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  8. Michael Hackmann
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  9. Josef Ingenerf
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  10. Jan Christoph
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  11. Sebastian Mate
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  12. Hans-Ulrich Prokosch
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  13. Emre F. Yekebas
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  14. Christoph Thorns
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  15. Jürgen Büning
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  16. Friedrich Prall
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  17. Ria Uhlig
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  18. Uwe J. Roblick
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  19. Jakob R. Izbicki
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  20. Ernst Klar
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  21. Hans-Peter Bruch
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  22. Brigitte Vollmar
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  23. Jens K. Habermann
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Consortia

On behalf of the ColoNet consortium

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jens K. Habermann.

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Oberländer, M., Linnebacher, M., König, A. et al. The “North German Tumor Bank of Colorectal Cancer”: status report after the first 2 years of support by the German Cancer Aid Foundation. Langenbecks Arch Surg 398, 251–258 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-012-1043-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-012-1043-4

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