Introduction
The Prospective Breast Cancer Biobank (PBCB) was established in 2010 and is a unique collaborative project between Haukeland University Hospital (HUH), represented by Prof. Gunnar Mellgren, and Stavanger university hospital (SUH), represented by Prof. Håvard Søiland. The biobank is located at two sites; HUH, Bergen and SUH, Stavanger, Norway. The main aim is to collect tumor tissue, liquid biopsies (blood and urine samples), clinical follow-up data and extensive PROM-data, from a population-based cohort of consecutive operable breast cancer patients. Follow-up and surveillance of these patients will continue until 11 years after the primary treatment. We will apply to extend this monitoring until 15 years of follow-up due to the late events among the luminal breast cancer subgroups, which comprise 75% of all breast cancers.
Finally, this will result in a unique biobank resource that is fit-for-purpose to investigate new circulating tumor biomarkers related to prediction, detection and monitoring of treatment effects in operable breast cancer patients. The biobank aims to enable analysis of both primary tumor and circulating tumor cells, nucleic acids (ctDNA and microRNA) and metabolites using state-of-the-art technology. The ultimate goal is to develop novel tests that can detect systemic relapse on the earliest possible level. Thus, the patients may get an early-as-possible secondary adjuvant treatment to increase long-term survival (20-year perspective).