Flint Animal Cancer Center Biorepository

From The Lobby To The Freezer….. Integrating Biorepository Collection Into Clinical Practice

Susan Lana, DVM, MS, DACVIM

Biorepository at the FACC

• Two types of collections
• Project/investigator driven
• A byproduct, using “leftovers” after the intended purpose
• Post clinical trial material
• Systematic collection
• No up front scientific question
• No associated grant monies
• Taking advantage of what walks through the door

Biorepository at the FACC

• Goal- Establish an archival collection of tissues and fluids that are optimally preserved for cancer research
• Internal use was the priority
• Started formally in 9/2003

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Translational Research

Molecular Profiling

Bedside

Bench side

Patient

Sample acquisition & Processing

Sample management

Molecular analysis

From NCI Molecular Profiling Initiative http://cgap-mf.nih.gov

The Process

• Client / patient interface
• Potential donor identification
• Not all patients are appropriate candidates
• Margins
• Performance status
• Co-morbidities
• Communication between clinicians and repository staff, surgical nurses is critical

The Process

• Client consent
• At the time of check in
• Rights to tissues
• Regulatory
• Patient confidentiality
• Anonymized
• No link to patient
• Coded/deidentified
• Link to donor via “honest broker” or secure data base

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The process at FACC

• Consent all new clients, repeat visits if needed
• IACUC – now CRB
• Initial collection, follow up collection, normal non cancer patients
• Necropsy collections consented via the necropsy consent form
• VTH consent to treat allows for collection of “left overs”?
• Was in person at check in, now electronic via RED CAP
• Additional outreach to clients (phone, on day of visit)
• COVID lessons

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Clinical Review Board at CSU

• Purpose
• Facilitate review and approval of studies with client owned animals
• Templates for informed owner consent
• Institutional advocate for client
• Institutional advocate for patient

Sample acquisition and Processing

• What to collect
• Project driven
• Special requests
• PI requests
• General
• Can’t please them all
• survey
• How to collect and store
• Initial training of staff
• SOPs, update regularly
• Data collection
• Sample specific
• Patient specific

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Sample acquisition and Processing

• Documentation of sample conditions
• Deviations from SOP
• Time to freezer
• Amount of sample
• Volume or weight
• “used” freeze thaw cycles

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Patient information

• Clinical outcome information- signalment
• Tx- sx, chemo, RT, CT, other, date and brief note
• Relapse date
• Death/ last follow date
• Cause of death
• Follow up samples
• Initial (pre), post treatment (variable time point depending on disease), at PD
• Paired metastasis, Necropsy samples

What do we collect?�

• Fluids
• Serum, WB in EDTA, urine, cfDNA via Streck tubes
• Tissues
• Tumor, normal tissue, frozen, wax block
• Histology
• OSA, LSA, MCT, Melanoma, HSA, TCC, pheo/adrenal, MH, lung, mammary, (STS)
• Fluids only
• PI requests- Blood, non frozen tissue, special processing
• Establish cell lines- Dr Dawn Duval’s lab

What do we have?

Other considerations

• Sample Management
• MTA / UBMTA
• Protects both sides
• Who has priority
• Internal vs external vs industrial
• Differential cost for NFP and FP entities
• Recover cost of operations, not profit

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Other considerations

-Dedicated Space

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-Dedicated Personnel

Lessons Learned

• SOPs and protocol development
• Intent of resource
• Local use only? External use?
• Seek guidance
• ISBER, Feds
• COHA
• Opportunities for collaboration
• Commitment from administration

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Thank you