Introduction
The overall objective of the Prostate Biobank is to foster research that contributes to more knowledge about causes and development of prostate cancer, and thus lead to better diagnostics and treatment of the disease.
The Prostate Cancer Biobank started at Oslo University Hospital (OUS) in 1994 as a radical prostatectomy sample and registry project. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples and clinical data are available from more than 5000 patients. Fresh frozen (FF) samples have been collected from approximately 60% of these patients, and between 2006 and 2013 blood, serum, plasma, and DNA were routinely added from all patients undergoing radical prostatectomy at Aker University Hospital (AUH). In 2015, also patients from the Norwegian Radium Hospital were included.
Participation in the Prostate Biobank is voluntary and based on a broad informed consent for the use of data and material in prostate cancer research, including industry collaborative research. Each participant signs a written informed consent regarding the screening, subsequent controls and follow-up, and the use of data and biological samples for research purposes.