Pediatric cancer is the dominant cause of disease-related death in children over one year of age in Western countries. New treatment strategies are warranted, and rapid advancements in molecular and genetic sequencing technologies are realizing the potential for improving care through precision medicine. In pediatric oncology, this encompasses the identification of unique cancer predispositions, somatic tumor mutations, personalized surveillance, and targeted treatment.
The clinical benefits of these scientific advancements rely on the development of translational bioinformatic expertise, clinical pipelines for extended testing and services, and ethically sound information and decision systems for families and healthcare professionals within pediatric oncology.
The Norwegian Childhood Cancer Biobank was established in 2017 as a national initiative to support research and improve outcomes for children with cancer. The biobank collects and provides a broad range of high-quality biological samples, including plasma, serum, buffy coat, bone marrow, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, biopsy, feces, extracted tumor DNA and RNA, extracted genomic DNA (gDNA), and mononuclear cells (MNC) from leukemia patients.
Our goal is to use the generated knowledge toward the establishment of a general translational platform that integrates different molecular modalities, where novel molecular and genetic information is systematically translated into clinical application.
The biobank has also established an advisory board to guide its development and ensure its alignment with clinical and research needs.