Breast Cancer

The King’s Health Partners Breast Cancer Biobank is a world-class resource, holding tissue and blood samples with detailed clinicopathological information dating back to 1975. The collection spans samples from over 35,000 patients, representing a wide range of breast cancer types.

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The biobank was initially established at New Cross Hospital in London as part of the Hedley Atkins Unit, named after the pioneering breast surgeon and researcher, Sir Hedley Atkins. In 1985, the Unit relocated to Guy’s Hospital, where the biobank and laboratories were initially housed on the 2nd floor of New Guy House (now the Borough Wing). In 2004, it moved to Thomas Guy House, which is now the Bermondsey Wing, before finally relocating to the Innovation Hub within Guy’s Cancer Centre in 2016.

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Since its inception, the biobank has been managed by academic breast histopathologists. Dr. Rosemary Millis, who led the pathology laboratory from 1975 to 1998, was followed by Prof. Andrew Hanby, and more recently by Prof. Sarah Pinder. Their leadership ensured meticulous recording of pathological data, much of which remains relevant today and continues to meet current diagnostic standards.

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The important link with research meant that changes in tissue quality could be fed back immediately. The ongoing desire to optimise tissue quality to benefit researcher requirements has become embedded in biobank working practice.  Each year, the Breast unit at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust treats over 450 new cases of breast cancer.

 

Tissue and associated clinical data have been shared with local, national and international collaborators for pioneering research. This has led to greater insight into the development and treatment of breast cancer and the publication of more than 300 peer-review papers.

 

Applications to access the biobank’s samples or data are accepted from investigators in both academic and commercial sectors.