A CANCER BIOBANK AS A PLATFORM FOR BASIC AND TRANSLATIONAL CANCER RESEARCH: SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Introduction

Progress in cancer management, including diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies, has rapidly advanced in recent years. Metallopharmaceuticals and radiopharmaceuticals are increasingly used as theranostic approaches, enabling tumor detection and targeted treatment. The development of new theranostic agents relies on access to well-characterized human biological samples linked to clinical and molecular data. Cancer biobanks, therefore, play a central role in connecting laboratory discoveries with clinical applications by providing patient-derived material for translational research. In this context, an academic cancer biobank was established in January 2020 to support basic and translational oncology.

Objectives

To present the structure and operational experience of a cancer biobank and to highlight its contribution to translational and theranostic research over a six-year period.

Materials and methods

This descriptive retrospective study reports the experience of a cancer biobank established at a public university (BLINDING). Biological samples collected from cancer patients and their use in research projects were systematically recorded and analyzed.

Results

The biobank was formally approved by local and national research ethics committees (BLINDING) and operates in accordance with nationally and internationally recognized biobanking practices. Patient samples were linked to anonymized clinical data and managed under standardized procedures ensuring quality, traceability, and long-term storage. To date, biological material has been collected from 726 cancer patients across different tumor types. For head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, 486 peripheral blood samples yielded 462 DNA, 450 RNA, and 321 plasma samples, together with 18 paired tumor tissues, including two primary cultures. Among melanoma patients, 197 blood samples provided DNA and RNA, with plasma available in 17 cases. For central nervous system tumors, 43 blood samples yielded DNA, RNA, and plasma. In addition to patient-derived samples, the biobank includes healthy commercial cell lines (Hacat, 3T3, HFF-1, HIEC-6) and tumor cell lines representing head and neck cancer (FaDu, SCC-4, SCC-9, SCC-25, A-253, Detroit-562), melanoma (SK-MEL-28, A-375), glioblastoma (U-87 MG, U-118 MG, U-251 MG, GL261), renal carcinoma (786-0), colorectal cancer (HT-29, Caco-2, HCT116, CT26.WT), breast cancer (MCF-7), ovarian cancer (OVCAR-3), lung cancer (NCI-H460), prostate cancer (LNCaP), bladder cancer (5637), and hematological malignancies (K562, MM.1R, MM.1S, RPMI 8226, HS 604.T, Hs 505.T, HL-60/S4, NB4). These materials have supported molecular analyses, biomarker discovery, experimental tumor models, and the evaluation of novel metallopharmaceutical compounds. Preclinical studies investigating three new radiopharmaceutical agents using biobank-derived tumor cell lines are underway.

Conclusion

This public university-based cancer biobank is a key translational resource, integrating molecular data, biomarker research, and preclinical model development within theranostic frameworks. Its experience since 2020 highlights the role of ethically regulated academic biobanking in advancing precision oncology and strengthening the link between patient-derived samples and experimental research.