Canada’s Largest Cancer Research Tumour Bank Opens in Kingston

The Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) has officially become the new home of Canada’s largest cancer clinical trials tumour bank. This significant move consolidates decades of patient-donated tumour samples into a single, state-of-the-art facility, aimed at enhancing cancer research and clinical trials. The Canadian Cancer Trials Group’s Tumour Tissue Data Repository, previously spread across multiple locations, is now centralized within KHSC, a change intended to bridge the gap between laboratory advancements and patient care.

The amalgamation of resources at KHSC, alongside the Queen’s Laboratory for Molecular Pathology, is expected to transform how researchers study cancer. Dr. Steve Smith, president and CEO of the KHSC Research Institute and deputy vice-principal research at Queen’s University, highlighted the importance of this initiative. He stated, “This is a fantastic example of where Kingston stands out nationally, home to the largest research tumour bank in Canada and to some of the most talented researchers in the world, who are focused on improving the lives of patients with cancer.”

The repository houses a vast collection of tissue samples collected through cancer clinical trials conducted globally, including those at KHSC. According to Shakeel Virk, manager of the repository and director of operations for the Queen’s lab, this extensive collection “creates extraordinary long-term value for cancer research.” He emphasized that “a sample given at one point could mean changes in treatment well down the road” and noted the responsibility that comes with being custodians of samples donated by patients worldwide.

Dr. David Berman, affiliated with the clinical department of pathology and molecular medicine at KHSC and Queen’s University, expressed optimism about the capabilities of the new facility. He remarked that the combined technologies and expertise enable researchers to “visualize the fight against cancer on a molecular scale.” This, he explained, opens avenues to uncover why certain treatments succeed for some patients while failing for others, paving the way for more tailored therapies.

Dr. Lois Shepherd, operational director of the repository and professor at Queen’s University, emphasized the collaboration’s potential to answer vital questions about cancer responses. “The underlying question we look to answer is why certain cancers respond the way they do,” she stated. “This repository provides extraordinary long-term data that helps us better understand cancer as a disease.”

The samples stored in the repository are instrumental in illuminating how cancers evolve and respond to treatments, contributing to the development of personalized treatment approaches. Dr. Annette Hay, a clinician scientist with KHSC and the trials group, noted that the facility is the culmination of years of dedicated effort. “With one in two Canadians expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, there is still much work to be done,” she said. “This dedicated space will allow for the expansion of this internationally renowned research for years to come.”

The Queen’s lab serves as the lead site for tissue and genomic analysis for hundreds of KHSC patients involved in research initiatives through the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope Cancer Network. The new facility will utilize advanced digital tools for processing and analyzing samples, focusing on areas such as histopathology, immuno-profiling, computerized image analysis, genomics, and artificial intelligence.

This ambitious project received support from various partners, including the Canadian Cancer Trials Group, Queen’s University, KHSC, the KHSC Research Institute, the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. For further details about the Tumour Tissue Data Repository, interested parties can visit the KHSC website.