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Cancer bank's boost for research Cancer bank's boost for research
(about 1 hour later)
Cancer research would be given an important boost if every NHS hospital in Wales had links to a national tissue bank, a leading professor says. Cancer research would be given an important boost if every NHS hospital in Wales had links to a national tissue bank, a leading professor has said.
The Wales Cancer Bank, which collects samples from patients with tumours at seven hospitals, has already helped research around the world.The Wales Cancer Bank, which collects samples from patients with tumours at seven hospitals, has already helped research around the world.
But as it marks its fifth anniversary, Prof Malcolm Mason, who established the bank, said he hopes it will expand. But as it marks its fifth anniversary, Professor Malcolm Mason, who set up the bank, said he hopes it will expand.
So far 3,000 patients have given tissue samples to the bank to be studied.So far 3,000 patients have given tissue samples to the bank to be studied.
Prof Mason started the bank after recognising the need for scientists to study tissue samples from people, rather than those grown in laboratories, because they tend to be more accurate and revealing.Prof Mason started the bank after recognising the need for scientists to study tissue samples from people, rather than those grown in laboratories, because they tend to be more accurate and revealing.
The bank, which receives funding from the assembly government, Cancer Research Wales and Velindre Hospital in Cardiff, collects tissue samples from patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. The bank receives funding from the assembly government, Cancer Research Wales and Velindre Hospital in Cardiff.
Samples from their partners or next-of-kin are also taken for scientists to compare them, taking into consideration the fact that both would have been exposed to similar environmental factors. Samples from cancer patients' partners or next-of-kin are also taken for scientists to compare them, taking into consideration that both would have been exposed to similar environmental factors.
You could say the people of Wales really are helping save the lives of people around the world Prof Malcolm MasonYou could say the people of Wales really are helping save the lives of people around the world Prof Malcolm Mason
They are then filed in the cancer bank anonymously and given to scientists - after rigorous checks - who request them for their research into the causes of the disease and the development of new treatments.They are then filed in the cancer bank anonymously and given to scientists - after rigorous checks - who request them for their research into the causes of the disease and the development of new treatments.
So far, they have been used by researchers in 25 projects around the world investigating all aspects of cancer, including how DNA alters in different types of breast cancer and the genetic instability that drives the earliest stages of cancer.So far, they have been used by researchers in 25 projects around the world investigating all aspects of cancer, including how DNA alters in different types of breast cancer and the genetic instability that drives the earliest stages of cancer.
Prof Mason said 99% of patients asked for samples had been happy to give them.Prof Mason said 99% of patients asked for samples had been happy to give them.
Currently, the cancer bank has staff and links at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales, Llandough and Velindre hospitals, the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, Singleton Hospital in Swansea, Withybush Hospital in Pembrokeshire and Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.Currently, the cancer bank has staff and links at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales, Llandough and Velindre hospitals, the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, Singleton Hospital in Swansea, Withybush Hospital in Pembrokeshire and Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.
The samples have already helped scientists understand more about cancerThe samples have already helped scientists understand more about cancer
But Prof Mason said it could be even more useful if it had a presence at all Welsh NHS hospitals.But Prof Mason said it could be even more useful if it had a presence at all Welsh NHS hospitals.
"I think it will take a while to happen because of resources. We're ready to expand if we had enough resources to allow us to do so. "I think it will take a while to happen because of resources," he said. "We're ready to expand if we had enough resources to allow us to do so.
"If we had a sample base representative of the whole of the Welsh population, we would be able to understand even more about cancer," he said. "If we had a sample base representative of the whole of the Welsh population, we would be able to understand even more about cancer.
"For example, we could look at geographical and environmental factors. It really is where the future of cancer research is at."For example, we could look at geographical and environmental factors. It really is where the future of cancer research is at.
"I also believe we will need to have stronger links with facilities like ours around the world. We already work closely with cancer banks in Europe and America but we really are leading the way with this and a lot are still catching us up.""I also believe we will need to have stronger links with facilities like ours around the world. We already work closely with cancer banks in Europe and America but we really are leading the way with this and a lot are still catching us up."
He said he was "very proud" of the success of the Wales Cancer Bank, which he said was the first to produce high-quality samples on a national scale.He said he was "very proud" of the success of the Wales Cancer Bank, which he said was the first to produce high-quality samples on a national scale.
"We started doing this before most other people and we really are ahead of the game. "We started doing this before most other people and we really are ahead of the game," he added.
"And it's thanks to all the people in Wales who fundraise for Cancer Research Wales and those patients who donate tissue. You could say the people of Wales really are helping save the lives of people around the world.""And it's thanks to all the people in Wales who fundraise for Cancer Research Wales and those patients who donate tissue. You could say the people of Wales really are helping save the lives of people around the world."