Setting up a biobank for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an endemic cancer in Hong Kong, Southern China and Southeast Asia. More than 1000 new cases are diagnosed each year in Hong Kong. To promote research in NPC, the Center for NPC Cancer Research (CNPCR) is established in 2008 by a group of scientists and clinicians from universities and oncology centres in Hong Kong. The CNPCR is a collaborative research center focused on studying the etiology and developing innovative methods for early detection and personalized treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The CNPCR BioBank is a centralized laboratory which contains many types of biological specimens for research on nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Types of biological specimens collected include tumor, lymph node and nasopharyngeal mucosa obtained from endoscopic biopsy or surgery, nasal swabs, blood and body fluid. The CNPCR BioBank was established to prospectively collect biological specimens to support translational research on nasopharyngeal carcinoma. At present, research is focused on finding novel biomarkers which may help in early diagnosis, predicting prognosis or response to treatment.