The Clinique Ambroise Paré from Thionville, IBBL (Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg) and the Cabinet de Pathologie de Thionville Antunes-Baudin have joined forces to establish a collection of tumour tissues that can benefit both patients and cancer researchers. The project is the first France – Luxembourg cross-border tumour biobank collection (“tumorothèque”, a collection of frozen tumour tissues). It is also the first tumour biobank collection in the Moselle department where collected tissues will be used for future diagnostic as well as research purposes.
When tissue is biopsied or a tumour is surgically removed as part of the therapy, a pathologist processes and analyses the tissue under a microscope to establish the precise diagnosis. The processing for diagnosis involves the collection and preservation of fragments of tissue in formalin fixative, followed by embedding in paraffin wax. Once the diagnosis is done, there may be tissue left, which has to be destroyed. However, this tissue has tremendous value to cancer researchers. Firstly, because it is relatively hard to come by. Secondly, because working with real tumour samples produces more reliable research results than working with lab-grown cancer cells. At the same time, the tissue also holds potential value for the cancer patient who donated it, in case additional diagnostic tests need to be performed down the line. This is particularly true for frozen tissue, in case future diagnostic tests cannot be performed on formalin fixed tissue.
Twofold objective
To preserve these frozen tissues and make them available for research and future diagnoses, the Clinique Ambroise Paré has teamed up with IBBL and the Cabinet de Pathologie Antunes-Baudin to launch the “Tumorothèque Thionville” project. The partners’ objective is to establish a diagnostic biobank collection parallel to a research biobank collection, a first in the Moselle department. Within the diagnostic biobank collection («tumorothèque sanitaire»), IBBL will ensure that the tumour samples are frozen and optimally preserved in liquid nitrogen, in case the clinic needs them in the future. The frozen tissue may be needed in case of cancer recurrence, to refine a patient’s diagnosis, to guide their treatment decision or if new diagnostic & prognostic tests cannot be performed on formalin fixed tissue. If a patient has given his/her consent, the tissue that is not required for immediate diagnosis nor for the diagnostic biobank collection will be anonymously integrated into the research biobank collection («tumorothèque de recherche»). Researchers that are studying how diseases develop and progress or aiming to find new diagnostic tools and treatments can then apply to use these samples.
Win-Win
While the project can clearly benefit research and patients alike, it is also a win-win situation for the partners involved. It will ensure that the Clinique Ambroise Paré operates in line with the recommendations of the French National Cancer Institute (INCa). These specify that all hospitals active in oncology use a biobank to cryo-preserve tumour samples for diagnostic and therapeutic purpose. It will also allow IBBL to grow its collection of cancer samples, one of its key missions as a biobank.
The first samples have already been collected for the initial phase of the project and the partners aim to collect samples from at least 100 colorectal cancer patients per year. In the future, the project is planned to be expanded to include urological cancers and possibly others types of cancers. Samples are collected during routine surgeries at the Clinique Ambroise Paré. Then, the Cabinet de Pathologie de Thionville Antunes-Baudin performs the diagnosis on the formalin fixed samples and finally, the frozen samples are sent to and stored at IBBL. In addition to the resected tissues, the collection includes blood samples and clinical data (e.g. diagnosis, treatment) from patients that will be linked to the samples. No identifying information is linked to the samples and data that are part of the research biobank collection to ensure that the biobank and researchers can never identify a sample donor.
Interregional cooperation
The “Tumorothèque Thionville” project is a prime example of how institutes from either side of the border can come together to address each other’s needs and achieve a common goal that would be difficult to attain otherwise. As the first such cross-border tumour biobank collection, the project is also an important step for the Greater Region of Luxembourg, where governments are aiming to develop closer interregional cooperation in the medical and research fields.
About the Clinique Ambroise Paré
The Clinique Ambroise Paré hosts 40 doctors across most medical and surgical specialties. Brought together by their strong values, over 150 employees work within the hospital with the goal of ensuring high quality care within a safe and welcoming environment. A key healthcare player in the Thionville region for over 50 years, the Clinique Ambroise Paré is part of the independent Louis Pasteur Santé group. The Clinique Ambroise Paré is also a member of SantéCité, the first national cooperative group of independent healthcare providers in France. The Clinique Ambroise Paré has 15 outpatient treatment places, 46 beds for post-acute care and rehabilitation and 111 beds for surgeries. It has authorisations for oncologic surgery on digestive and urological cancers and for plastic surgery. For more information, please visit http://www.clinique-ambroisepare.fr/
About the Cabinet de Pathologie Antunes-Baudin
The Cabinet de Pathologie Antunes-Baudin is a civil professional company (Société Civile Professionnelle, SCP) of clinicians specialised in pathological anatomy and cytology performing diagnoses for different private and public health care facilities in the Lorraine region (Moselle, Meurthe et Moselle, Meuse). It has a broad field of activities with a particular expertise in the fields of dermatology, gastroenterology and urology. A merger with another civil professional company in pathological anatomy and cytology based in Metz has been imitated. This merger should allow the laboratories to expand their diagnostic possibilities and to diversify their activities (new technologies, pathology education and courses). The shared activity of Dr Laurent Antunes between his pathology practice and IBBL is an asset to the establishment of this collaborative project.
When tissue is biopsied or a tumour is surgically removed as part of the therapy, a pathologist processes and analyses the tissue under a microscope to establish the precise diagnosis. The processing for diagnosis involves the collection and preservation of fragments of tissue in formalin fixative, followed by embedding in paraffin wax. Once the diagnosis is done, there may be tissue left, which has to be destroyed. However, this tissue has tremendous value to cancer researchers. Firstly, because it is relatively hard to come by. Secondly, because working with real tumour samples produces more reliable research results than working with lab-grown cancer cells. At the same time, the tissue also holds potential value for the cancer patient who donated it, in case additional diagnostic tests need to be performed down the line. This is particularly true for frozen tissue, in case future diagnostic tests cannot be performed on formalin fixed tissue.
Twofold objective
To preserve these frozen tissues and make them available for research and future diagnoses, the Clinique Ambroise Paré has teamed up with IBBL and the Cabinet de Pathologie Antunes-Baudin to launch the “Tumorothèque Thionville” project. The partners’ objective is to establish a diagnostic biobank collection parallel to a research biobank collection, a first in the Moselle department. Within the diagnostic biobank collection («tumorothèque sanitaire»), IBBL will ensure that the tumour samples are frozen and optimally preserved in liquid nitrogen, in case the clinic needs them in the future. The frozen tissue may be needed in case of cancer recurrence, to refine a patient’s diagnosis, to guide their treatment decision or if new diagnostic & prognostic tests cannot be performed on formalin fixed tissue. If a patient has given his/her consent, the tissue that is not required for immediate diagnosis nor for the diagnostic biobank collection will be anonymously integrated into the research biobank collection («tumorothèque de recherche»). Researchers that are studying how diseases develop and progress or aiming to find new diagnostic tools and treatments can then apply to use these samples.
Win-Win
While the project can clearly benefit research and patients alike, it is also a win-win situation for the partners involved. It will ensure that the Clinique Ambroise Paré operates in line with the recommendations of the French National Cancer Institute (INCa). These specify that all hospitals active in oncology use a biobank to cryo-preserve tumour samples for diagnostic and therapeutic purpose. It will also allow IBBL to grow its collection of cancer samples, one of its key missions as a biobank.
The first samples have already been collected for the initial phase of the project and the partners aim to collect samples from at least 100 colorectal cancer patients per year. In the future, the project is planned to be expanded to include urological cancers and possibly others types of cancers. Samples are collected during routine surgeries at the Clinique Ambroise Paré. Then, the Cabinet de Pathologie de Thionville Antunes-Baudin performs the diagnosis on the formalin fixed samples and finally, the frozen samples are sent to and stored at IBBL. In addition to the resected tissues, the collection includes blood samples and clinical data (e.g. diagnosis, treatment) from patients that will be linked to the samples. No identifying information is linked to the samples and data that are part of the research biobank collection to ensure that the biobank and researchers can never identify a sample donor.
Interregional cooperation
The “Tumorothèque Thionville” project is a prime example of how institutes from either side of the border can come together to address each other’s needs and achieve a common goal that would be difficult to attain otherwise. As the first such cross-border tumour biobank collection, the project is also an important step for the Greater Region of Luxembourg, where governments are aiming to develop closer interregional cooperation in the medical and research fields.
About the Clinique Ambroise Paré
The Clinique Ambroise Paré hosts 40 doctors across most medical and surgical specialties. Brought together by their strong values, over 150 employees work within the hospital with the goal of ensuring high quality care within a safe and welcoming environment. A key healthcare player in the Thionville region for over 50 years, the Clinique Ambroise Paré is part of the independent Louis Pasteur Santé group. The Clinique Ambroise Paré is also a member of SantéCité, the first national cooperative group of independent healthcare providers in France. The Clinique Ambroise Paré has 15 outpatient treatment places, 46 beds for post-acute care and rehabilitation and 111 beds for surgeries. It has authorisations for oncologic surgery on digestive and urological cancers and for plastic surgery. For more information, please visit http://www.clinique-ambroisepare.fr/
About the Cabinet de Pathologie Antunes-Baudin
The Cabinet de Pathologie Antunes-Baudin is a civil professional company (Société Civile Professionnelle, SCP) of clinicians specialised in pathological anatomy and cytology performing diagnoses for different private and public health care facilities in the Lorraine region (Moselle, Meurthe et Moselle, Meuse). It has a broad field of activities with a particular expertise in the fields of dermatology, gastroenterology and urology. A merger with another civil professional company in pathological anatomy and cytology based in Metz has been imitated. This merger should allow the laboratories to expand their diagnostic possibilities and to diversify their activities (new technologies, pathology education and courses). The shared activity of Dr Laurent Antunes between his pathology practice and IBBL is an asset to the establishment of this collaborative project.
