The Children’s Cancer Centre (CCC) Biobank is an established bioresource research platform for paediatric malignancy. Adjacent to The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, the CCC Biobank uses its advantageous location to foster collaborations that deliver specimens for pre-clinical and clinical research to improve the detection, treatment and prevention of childhood cancer.
Since its inception in 2014, approximately 1,500 participants have offered consent to donate their specimens and health information across the span of their treatment. Through the governing Access and Oversight Committee, specimens have been distributed towards 40 translational research projects in Australia and internationally. Clinical trials driven by genomic analysis are supported via a sample processing service and banked samples are provided for further clinical testing. In total, 57% of CCC Biobank participants have had a sample distributed for research and clinical purposes.
Over the years, the types of specimens and processing methods have evolved with the development of new techniques and research questions. In 2019, storage of cerebro spinal fluid commenced, leading to the distribution of 92 samples for liquid biopsy research. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks prepared from solid and CNS tumours are currently in demand for techniques such as digital spatial transcriptomics. Working closely with the Anatomical Pathology department, the CCC Biobank seeks to increase the storage and utilisation of this sample type. Another asset to the biobank is the establishment of 20 neurosphere cell lines from high-grade CNS tumours, of which 8 have been distributed to national and international research groups and paediatric precision medicine programs. Strengthening research partnerships nationally & internationally has placed the CCC Biobank in a position to provide high quality, fit for purpose samples now and well into the future.