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03/16: New research tool unveiled in fight against cancer
The BC Cancer Agency’s Tumour Tissue Repository is part of a powerful new research tool to help cancer researchers worldwide in their search for more effective cancer therapies.
Dr. Peter Watson, the new director of the BC Cancer Agency’s Tumour Tissue Repository, joined his colleagues today in announcing a national tumour bank registry and research infrastructure network that will enable cancer investigators to obtain samples for their research and increase the rate of discovery.
“The BC Cancer Agency’s Tumour Tissue Repository is built on a state-of-the-art laboratory for tissue and blood processing, and a secure database for storing clinical information,” explained Dr. Watson. “The BC Cancer Agency is one of six founding members of CTRNet, and has played a major role in the planning and design of the new national network.”
CTRNet is funded by a five-year $3.8 million award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The BC Cancer Agency’s Tumour Tissue Repository is funded in large part through the support of donors to the BC Cancer Foundation.
“CTRNet’s national network is the first in North America to provide researchers worldwide with access to a comprehensive source of tissue and clinical data. CTRNet now has more than 7,000 samples available,” said Peter Geary, executive director of CTRNet. “Providing access to research materials is a critical step towards understanding cancer at the molecular level.”
Dr. Philip Branton, Scientific Director of CIHR’s Institute of Cancer Research, said, “We know that current cancer therapies work well for a lot of patients but are not successful for others with the same diagnosis. We are trying to find out why this happens so that we can tailor treatment to individuals with greater certainty of success. The availability of tumour samples will allow cancer researchers to investigate the relationship between the genetic and biological properties of a tumour and a patient’s response to cancer treatment.”
CTRNet, with its head office in CancerCare Manitoba, is a consortium of six collection programs, including the Fonds de recherché de santé du Québec, the Ontario Cancer Research Network, CancerCare Manitoba Breast Tumour Bank, the Alberta Cancer Board Research Tumour Bank, the BC Cancer Agency Tumour Tissue Repository and the National Cancer Institute of Cancer – Clinical Trials Group Tumour Bank. Each program maintains collecting facilities, which are linked electronically.
Cancer investigators worldwide can obtain samples for their research, increasing the rate of discovery. With the guidance of the Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies (CAPCA), the members of the consortium will work together to ensure that researchers can access quality-controlled materials to facilitate their research.
Lisa Brewster, a Victoria woman recently diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer, consented to have the tumour and tissue donated to the BC Cancer Agency’s Tumour Tissue Repository and the larger CTRNet for research.
“As a younger woman with a recurrence of breast cancer within two years of being treated for the first breast cancer, I’ve learned that despite receiving what I consider excellent cancer treatment based on the most current science, cancer is not always easy to eradicate. I hope that having access to a bank of samples – and a large number of samples - will assist researchers in learning more about how specific cancers can be treated more effectively or, ideally, prevented.”
Dr. Brent Schacter, CEO of CAPCA, said, “The generous support of CIHR has enabled CAPCA to realize its vision for CTRNet. A few years ago the membership of CAPCA recognized the potential benefit of a network to link the provincial tumour banks and we are very pleased that their investigators successfully collaborated to create CTRNet. The CTRNet Network becomes the first link in the chain of an overall Canadian cancer research initiative.”
For more information about CTRNet, please visit the website at www.ctrnet.ca.
CIHR is Canada’s premier health research funding agency, supporting more than 8,500 researchers in universities, teaching hospitals, and research institutes across Canada. CIHR’s goal is to invest in high quality people, excellent science, and training the next generation to create the backbone of a knowledge-based economy.
CAPCA is an inter-provincial organization representing provincial/territorial cancer agencies and programs that are responsible for reducing the burden of cancer on Canadians. CAPCA facilitates and supports provincial/territorial cancer agencies and programs through effective leadership, collaboration, communications and advocacy for cancer control.
The BC Cancer Agency, a part of the Provincial Health Services Authority, is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer, and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. It provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia by working with community partners to deliver a range of oncology services, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. The BC Cancer Foundation raises funds to support research and enhancements to patient care at the BC Cancer Agency.
For more information, please contact:
Nicole Adams
Public Relations
BC Cancer Agency
604.877.6272
1.800.663.3333, ex 6272
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