The OncoLifeS data-biobank is embedded in a large academic hospital, which ensures structured data storage and management, with continued adherence to legal and ethical standards.

Historical databases (i.e. retrospective inclusions) can become part of the OncoLifeS data-biobank as well, in compliance with legal and ethical standards.

Other studies within the scope of the 1998 Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act (in Dutch: WMO) can use the methods of the OncoLifeS initiative for data collection, data storage, and biomaterial collection and processing, provided that they have established appropriate governance procedures and obtained ethical approval.

We prospectively included people either diagnosed with cancer or found to be genetically predisposed to cancer. Overall, approximately 70% of patients who were approached have agreed to participate. At this moment, more than 5,500 patients diagnosed with cancer have been prospectively included in our data-biobank. In addition, more than 10,000 patients have been included retrospectively.

More information for patients (in Dutch) can be found on: patients.

Clinical data collected from the electronic medical records

• General patient information (e.g. gender, date of birth);
• Clinical history (e.g. comorbidities);
• Outcome of the Adult Comorbidity Evaluation 27 (ACE-27);
• Clinical and pathological diagnosis (e.g. tumour type, radiological images);
• Surgical treatment (type, date of surgery);
• Radiotherapy (e.g. type, start date);
• Systemic therapy (e.g. type, start date).

Questionnaires

• Family history;
• Lifestyle (e.g. smoking);
• Social conditions (e.g. marital status);
• Quality of life (e.g. EORTC QLQ-C30);
• Daily living activities (IADL-Q);
• Frailty (e.g. G8 questionnaire);
• Mental status (e.g. GDS-15, MMSE).

Biomaterials

• Serum
• EDTA plasma + buffy coat (DNA);
• Heparin plasma;
• Plasma (for cell-free DNA);
• Whole blood (for DNA or RNA);
• Bone marrow;
• Faeces swab in glycerol b;
• Faeces;
• Urine;
• Tumour tissue (for paraffin embedding);
• Tissue adjacent to a tumour (for frozen section examination);
• Tissue adjacent to a tumour (for paraffin embedding);
• Healthy tissue (for frozen section examination).

Smart and motivated researchers are needed to perform research at OncoLifeS. As a researcher, your main focus is on further developing one of the above-mentioned research lines by, for instance, collecting research data from patients and entering and analysing big data.

You will learn a great deal about oncology patients as well as conduct and organize scientific research. Positions are available for Bachelor’s and Master’s students with a medical or biomedical background, such as medicine.

The number of working hours will be decided on in consultation and the compensation offered will depend on the internship conditions and the collective labour agreement.

We have published more than 18 articles. Please contact us for the full list of publications.