University of Saskatchewan researchers have teamed up with the province and Ovarian Cancer Canada to create Saskatchewan’s first tumour bank.

The new project will offer ovarian cancer patients testing to learn if biologic drugs can control their illness.

Dr. Laura Hopkins who is a professor of oncology and gynecology at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine says an ovarian cancer tumour bank, with samples linked to clinical data such as chemotherapy history and disease outcomes of anonymized patients is essential for future research.

Dr. Hopkins says the tumour bank will also consist of blood samples. “A tumour bank is really just a place where we store cancer tissue, either in a fixed, inactive or dead form that the tissue would be preserved in a wax or formula and kept in a storage cabinet.” says Dr. Hopkins. “We’re also going to have preservation of tissue in the living form and that’s when it’s fresh and frozen and kept at minus 80 degrees.”

Dr. Hopkins says there are biomarkers or little signals that can be identified on tumour specimens that can predict whether the person will respond or not to a given biologic. Many biologics are toxic and selecting only those who benefit from the drugs will save other patients time and spare them health complications. Last year, $1 million dollars was included in the provincial budget to support ovarian cancer treatment.