Tumor biobanks in translational medicine

J Transl Med. 2012 Oct 2:10:204. doi: 10.1186/1479-5876-10-204.

Abstract

The concept of tissue banking as a "bio-repository" aimed to collection, storing and distribution of human biological material and clinical information, is emerging as a successful strategy to support clinical and translational research. In particular, Tumor Biobanks represent a key resource for diagnosis, research and experimental therapies, especially for those correlated to clinical application of a new type of medicine known as "intelligent drugs". Biobanks are not "spontaneous" collections, but they needs an institutional organization, basically a research unit, whose effectiveness and quality can be guaranteed only if it is carefully organized according to precise and shared rules.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Preservation, Biological
  • Specimen Handling
  • Tissue Banks* / standards
  • Translational Research, Biomedical* / standards