title: Cervical cytology biobanking in Europe.
abstract: A cervical cytology biobank (CCB) is an extension of current cytopathology laboratory practice consisting in the systematic storage of Pap smears or liquid-based cytology samples from women participating in cervical cancer screening with the explicit purpose to facilitate future scientific research and quality audit of preventive services. A CCB should use an internationally agreed uniform cytology terminology, be integrated in a national or regional screening registry, and be linked to other registries (histology, cancer, vaccination). Legal and ethical principles concerning personal integrity and data safety must be respected strictly. Biobank-based studies require approval of ethical review boards. A CCB is an almost inexhaustible resource for fundamental and applied biological research. In particular, it can contribute to answering questions on the natural history of HPV infection and HPV-induced lesions and cancers, screening effectiveness, exploration of new biomarkers, and surveillance of the short- and long-term effects of the introduction of HPV vaccination. To understand the limitations of CCB, more studies are needed on the quality of samples in relation to sample type, storage procedures, and duration of storage.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium. marc.arbyn@wiv-isp.be
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arbyn
authors.forename: Evert-Ben
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Van Veen
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bogers
authors.forename: Gaëlle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boulet
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bergeron
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Knebel-Doeberitz
authors.forename: Joakim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dillner
mesh_terms: D052685:Alphapapillomavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018070:Biological Specimen Banks / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000166:cytology*; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008498:Medical Record Linkage; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines; D012313:RNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012042:Registries; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000592:standards; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA