Research / Research Focus / Cellular and Molecular Tumorbiology / Andrea Gsur / Biobank

Biobank

We have generated large biobanks comprising DNA, plasma and stool samples as well as clinical databases, from more than 18.000 cancer patients and controls. These biobanks, which represent a valuable resource for ongoing and future research projects. Our focus is on colorectal cancer: Colorectal Cancer Study of Austria (CORSA), prostate cancer: Prostate Cancer Study of Austria (PROSA) and lung cancer: Lung Cancer Study of Austria (LUCAS).

Colorectal Cancer Study of Austria (CORSA)

In the ongoing Colorectal Cancer Study of Austria (CORSA) more than 14.500 participants comprising colorectal cancer cases (stages I-IV), high and low risk adenomas and population-based, colonoscopy-negative controls have been recruited since 2003 in cooperation with the province-wide screening program "Burgenland Prevention Trial of Colorectal Disease with Immunological Testing" (B-PREDICT). All inhabitants of the Austrian province Burgenland aged between 40 and 80 years are invited annually to participate in fecal immunochemical testing (FIT). FIT-positive tested individuals are offered a complete colonoscopy and are asked to take part in CORSA at time of colonoscopy.
Further CRC cases have been recruited at multiple centres in Vienna such as at the Medical University of Vienna (Department of Surgery), the Clinic Favoriten Süd, Clinic Landstraße and the Medical University of Graz (Department of Internal Medicine).

Prostate Cancer Study of Austria (PROSA)

The ongoing Prostate Cancer Study of Austria (PROSA) consists of about 2.500 prostate cancer cases and 900 benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) controls. Since 1998, patients have been recruited at the Departments of Urology at the General Hospital of Vienna (Medical University of Vienna), the Clinic Favoriten and the Clinic Donaustadt. Cases are patients with histologically verified prostate cancer. The control group comprises men with BPH.

Lung Cancer Study of Austria (LUCAS)

From January 1997 to 2006, 1.100 newly diagnosed, previously untreated and histologically confirmed lung cancer cases were recruited from the Clinic Penzing and the Landesklinikum Hochegg (Lower Austria).