Almost a decade ago, a large-scale cancer study was launched at the UMCG. This study, called 'OncoLifeS’, is still ongoing and already involves over 9.000 participants. The OncoLifeS team collects medical data and body material from cancer patients for research. By sharing their data, participants contribute to improving care for others with cancer. OncoLifeS researchers would like to collaborate more with patients and healthcare facilities in the region to get the widest possible picture of individuals with cancer and the different types of cancer.
When Prof. dr. Truuske de Bock, professor of Oncological Epidemiology at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), joined the UMCG in 2014, she noticed that data on cancer patients were not yet registered in an accessible way. According to Truuske, a clear overview with information on these patients provides a lot of insight into the origin and course of the disease. She therefore decided to set up the OncoLifeS data-biobank.
OncoLifeS investigates cancer risk factors, better treatment options and how to increase patients' quality of life. For this, researchers collect blood and tumour tissue, as well as data on lifestyle, quality of life and CT images. Exhaled air is also collected from patients with lung cancer to examine if the treatment they receive is effective. Truuske stresses the importance of the participant's prior informed consent. Without informed consent, it is not possible to use their data and body materials.
The OncoLifeS team works closely with various UMCG departments, such as the Department of Pulmonary Oncology. Dr Anthonie van der Wekken is a lung oncologist at the UMCG and involved in OncoLifeS. He treats patients with rare types of cancer, which is widely done at the UMCG.
Anthonie emphasises that OncoLifeS also includes patients that are treated at a regional hospital who do not directly are in need of academic care. As OncoLifeS collects more data from patients in the region, a more diverse picture of invididuals with cancer emerges. This creates more knowledge about the development and treatment of different types of cancer. In other words, the more data that is collected from the region, the more information is being obtained about the disease to investigate.
Currently, the OncoLifeS team collaborates with other healthcare institutions such as the Ommelander Hospital and Treant. By cooperating. OncoLifeS hopes to increase the number of participants from the region. This will allow the team to conduct even more targeted research into cancer treatment and perhaps in prevention.
The UMCG Research Data Catalogue provides a systematic and searchable overview of metadata sources available for research. Through this catalogue, the UMCG contributes to the findability of research data and encourage reuse and collaboration. Researchers inside and outside the UMCG can use the catalogue to search for sample and data collections relevant for their research. They can filter on, for example, age groups, data types and available data, such as: lab results, medication and lifestyle. Besides available samples and data, each individual profile page shows the cohort design, contributors, subcohorts, and collection events. The catalogue also features a contact button to establish a collaboration.
