A pilot study for human tumor/DNA banking: returned more questions than answers

A pilot study was performed for setting up the Dokuz Eylul University Breast Tumor DNA Bank (DEUBTB) to facilitate the sharing of tumor DNA/RNA samples and related data from cases collected by collaborators specializing in the breast cancer diseases between 2004 and 2006. The pilot study aimed to provide answers for certain questions on: (1) ethical concerns (informing the volunteer for donating specimen, anonymizing the sample information, procedure on sample request), (2) obtaining and processing samples (technical issues, flowchart), (3) storing samples and their products (storing forms and conditions), (4) clinical database (which clinical data to store), (5) management organization (quality and quantity of personnel, flowchart for management relations), (6) financial issues (establishment and maintenance costs). When the bank had 64 samples, even though it is quite ready to supply samples for a research project, it revealed many questions on details that may be answered in more than one way, pointing that all biobanks need to be controlled by a higher degree of management party which develops and offers quality standards for these establishments.