Tissue solutions for cancer research
www.ontariotumourbank.ca

The Ontario Tumour Bank (OTB) is a biorepository and data bank that collects human tumour and other tissues across the province and makes them available to academic and industry-based cancer researchers. The OTB is a valuable resource that supports researchers developing better diagnostic tools and new drug therapies.  The tissue samples are of high quality, diversity and integrity.

Coordinated Team of Professionals

The OTB’s team of professionals, located in five participating medical centres across Ontario, provide high quality samples and clinical data. They receive specialized training to ensure that exacting standards are always met. The staff collaborates with pathologists, medical oncologists, surgeons and other hospital personnel to obtain patient consent, collect tissues and assemble comprehensive clinical information on each donor.

Distinctive Features of the Ontario Tumour Bank

Quality 

The OTB has direct control over every aspect of collection and storage. Standard operating procedures are rigorously adhered to by a team of professionals working in the network of hospitals. Samples are preserved within 30 minutes post-resection. All tissues are verified by pathologists and subject to an exacting audit process to ensure tissue integrity and data completion. Tissue specimens are labelled with a barcode, entered into the inventory, frozen and stored at -196°C. The patient’s identity is removed from the clinical information, which is stored in a secure central database.

Diversity

The OTB’s inventory includes samples from more than 35 disease sites including breast, colorectal, gynecological, head and neck, lung, lymphoma and prostate cancers. Researchers have access to fresh-frozen tumour tissue, normal adjacent tissue, paraffin-embedded tissue and peripheral blood (buffy coat and plasma).  Comprehensive clinical information is collected on each case including pathology, patient and family history, treatment, toxicity and outcome data.

Integrity

The OTB’s unique governance model and its thorough ethics review process ensure that it meets the highest scientific and ethical standards. The collection of research biospecimens does not interfere with patient care and the privacy and confidentiality of all volunteer donors are maintained. Informed consent for tissue collection and research use is obtained from all patients. The Ontario Tumour Bank and participating healthcare institutions comply with all existing Canadian federal, provincial and institutional requirements pertaining to the participation of patients in research as well as the collection and use of research biospecimens and accompanying clinical data.

How to Obtain Tumour Samples

Please visit the website at www.ontariotumourbank.ca for immediate access to a real-time inventory of thousands of biospecimens and related clinical data. To gain access to samples and data researchers may submit an application online.  A streamlined scientific and ethical review ensures that samples and data are delivered on a timely basis.

For more information e-mail tumourbank@oicr.on.ca.