The PATH biobank – fostering breast cancer research

Introduction: For proteomics analysis, high quality of biomaterials is mandatory. The PATH biobank can offer best quality of tissue and blood specimen and annotating data sets in the field of breast cancer. PATH Biobank is a non-profit organization and coordinates a network of five certified breast cancer centers in Germany. There, breast cancer samples are collected according to SOPs and stored in the gas phase of liquid nitrogen. Scientists from academic institutions and industry can receive samples and annotating data sets after application with a scientific rationale and a positive vote on ethics.

Materials and methods: The PATH Biobank operates a centralized database and a decentralized biorepository. The samples are stored at the five participating institutes of pathology. Tumor tissue as well as normal (benign) adjacent tissue and blood serum aliquots are prepared within a cold ischemia time < 45 min, labeled, and stored at -160 °C according to SOPs. The donors have given broad informed consent for the use of the samples and data for cancer research. With an extensive long-term follow-up program, disease progression and breast cancer therapy are being monitored.

Results: Biomaterial from more than 12,800 breast cancer patients was collected since 2004. A classification of breast cancer into the intrinsic molecular subtypes is possible for 90 % of the donors based on the annotating data sets. Information about disease progression is available for 65 % and overall survival for 90 % of the donors. Since 2008 samples and data have been used to support 43 research projects. In total, more than 20 publications have been published so far, with results based on samples or data from the PATH biobank.

Feedback from researchers using PATH samples indicate an excellent quality of the specimens. Analyzed PATH samples have a high tumor content and a good RNA integrity. This also emphasizes the importance of sample storage at -160 °C and demonstrates the high standard in PATH"s pre-analytical sample processing.

Conclusions: PATH"s adequately processed and stored breast cancer specimens, including the annotating data sets, are a valuable source for successful proteomics research.