BIOSPECIMENS
Human biospecimens play a critical role in our emerging understanding of cancer. However, the manner in which biospecimens are collected from patients and subsequently handled, the quality of the biospecimen-associated information, and ethical, legal, and policy parameters, can affect biospecimen quality and usefulness in cancer research. Scientific advances depend on the availability of biospecimens that have been collected according to the highest scientific and ethical standards.
The NCCCP pilot program aims to increase knowledge of infrastructure requirements, policies and procedures, costs, and other issues (e.g., collaborations or contracts necessary for biospecimen collection, annotation, and storage) required for implementation of the NCI Best Practices for Biospecimen Resources, thus enabling community hospitals to participate in biospecimen initiatives that will advance the NCI's research mission.
For Professionals
The Office of Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research
NCI Best Practices for Biospecimen Resources
Currently, there are no standardized procedures for collecting, processing, storing, and distributing biospecimens. The National Cancer Institute has created a plan to address this roadblock to progress in cancer research. In 2005, the NCI established the Office of Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research (OBBR) to guide, coordinate, and develop the Institute's biospecimen resources and capabilities. The OBBR's mission is to ensure that human specimens available for cancer research are of the highest quality.
Using input from researchers, physicians, ethics and legal experts, and patient advocates, the OBBR and the Biorepository Coordinating Committee of the NCI developed the NCI Best Practices for Biospecimen Resources, a document that outlines technical and operational best practices for the use of biospecimens in research. This document also outlines best practices for biospecimen-related ethical, legal, and policy issues.
The NCI Best Practices for Biospecimen Resources will be updated as new technology and clinical practices emerge and as policy and legal standards evolve. The document can be accessed directly at http://biospecimens.cancer.gov
For Patients
The use of biospecimens for research ultimately depends on the willingness of patients to donate tissue while they are undergoing surgery or biopsy procedures.
Providing Your Tissue for Research: What You Need To Know
is meant to complement the face-to-face education between clinicians and potential clinical trial participants. It provides a balanced discussion of questions and answers on how tissue specimens are collected and used in research. This booklet can be ordered through NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER or accessed directly through the NCI Web site, http://www.cancer.gov.
