THE BRAIN TUMOUR TISSUE BANK
Funded by the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada
Information for Patients
RESEARCH
Ten thousand new cases of primary or secondary brain tumours are diagnosed and treated in Canada each year. Unfortunately there is no way to prevent or predict who will get a brain tumor. Much research is needed to understand the mechanisms of tumour generation, growth and treatment.
The Brain Tumour Tissue Bank located in London Ontario, Canada supports and promotes research on human brain tumours.
Research on brain tumors depends on the availability of human brain tissues particularly those freshly frozen at the time of removal. Although other research models have been developed in animals or by culturing tumour cells, none completely reproduces the behaviour of human brain tumours.
To aid researchers, the Brain Tumour Tissue Bank has been collecting human brain tumour specimens for research in Canada and internationally since its establishment in 1991. A wide variety of primary and secondary brain tumour tissues and spinal tumors are available for molecular, protein and structural studies.
Interested researchers are required to fill out application forms, which are reviewed by the Medical Advisory Committee of the Bank. Brain tumor specimens are supplied to qualified researchers in the hopes that some day the cause of and cure for brain tumours will be found.
SOURCE OF TISSUES
Brain tumor tissues are directly obtained and immediately processed and frozen in liquid nitrogen at -196 C in the operating room. Timing is very important in order to preserve freshness as tissues undergo rapid deterioration after removal.
In a standard brain tumour operation, after the tumour is removed only a small portion of this tissue is required by the pathology department to establish the diagnosis. The remaining tissue is regarded as "extra" and discarded. It is this extra tissue that is being stored at the Brain Tumour Tissue Bank.
During the same operation it is also a standard procedure to have a small needle placed in the arm to draw blood for testing. One teaspoon of blood is collected, frozen and stored.
PATIENT PARTICIPATION
Participation in the program is completely voluntary and there are no increased risks to the patients. The source of all tissues is kept confidential and any descriptions of research related to these tissues in a medical journal will not mention patients by names.
Interested patients or guardians of patients about to undergo a brain tumour operation at the London Health Sciences Centre may be asked by the neurosurgeon to participate. Patients or guardians may also inquire about the program.
SITE
The Brain Tumour Tissue Bank is located at the London Health Sciences Centre London Ontario, Canada.
The neurosurgeons at the London Health Sciences Centre are participation in the program.
PAST TISSUE RECIPIENTS
- AMGEN Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA
- Brain Research Lab, London, ON
- Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
- CancerCare Manitoba, Manitoba, Winnipeg
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre, Seattle, WA
- Gliatech Inc.,Cleveland,OH
- International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
- John's Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
- Kinetek Pharmaceuticals Inc., Vancouver, BC
- Lawson Research Institute, London, ON
- London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON
- London Regional Cancer Centre, London, ON
- MCH Research Institute, Montreal,Quebec
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, QC
- Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON
- Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
- St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
- Sick Children's Hospital, Toronto, ON
- Sunnybrook & Womens College Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON
- Toronto Hospital, Western Division, Toronto, ON
- Trans Molecular Inc., Birmingham, AL
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
- University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
- University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- University of Quebec, Montreal, QC
- University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, UK
- University of Western Ontario, London, ON
- University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
- Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact:
The Brain Tumour Tissue Bank
London Health Sciences Centre
University Campus - Rm C7-108
339 Windermere Rd.
London, Ontario
N6A 5A5
Canada
Tel (519) 663-3427
Fax (519) 663-2930
Coordinator marcela.white@lhsc.on.ca
Director david.ramsay@lhsc.on.ca
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À 2003 Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada 1.800.265.5106
Charitable Registration #BN118816339RR0001 |