Tumour banks in pediatric oncology.
BACKGROUND
The information offered by the new genomic and proteomic techniques will play a central role in our knowledge of cancer; but it is limited by the lack of available tissue samples. Cancer in children is a sum of infrequent diseases, so tumor banks are support tools for translational research, providing access to a sufficiently large series of samples, which would minimize the asymmetric effect of the diverse origin.


METHODS
From 2003 a Molecular Pathology Network in Pediatric Solid Tumors Netwoks exists in Spain, and we are a part of it. Our aim was to create a pediatric tumor bank program and consensus documents about its use.


RESULTS
Standard Operating Procedures for collection and transport of samples have been created.


CONCLUSIONS
Thinking about the fast progress in Molecular Biology and the low frequency in pediatric tumors, it is vital to consider the importance of a bio bank.
Balaguer
J
J
Paediatric Oncology Unit, La Fe Research Foundation, La Fe Hospital, Valencia, Spain. balaguer_jul@gva.es
Cañete
A
A
Costa
E
E
Oltra
S
S
Hernández
M
M
Castel
V
V
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D013030:Spain; D014015:Tissue Banks / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration