Schwannomatosis (SWN) is a rare tumor predisposition syndrome caused by pathogenic variants in NF2, SMARCB1, or LZTR1. Mosaicism contributes to up to 30
Abstract Background Histologically normal mammary tissue from breast cancer patients can harbor significant genetic alterations that could precede visible tumor development and influence disease progression. Methods Whole-exome sequencing was performed on 408 samples from 77 breast cancer patients with poor prognosis, 49 patients recruited without prognosis-based selection, and 15 individuals undergoing non-cancer-related mammoplasty. Paired primary tumor and histologically normal mammary gland tissues were analyzed. Variant classification adhered to strict filtering criteria, incorporating allele frequency thresholds, multiple annotation databases, and in silico prediction tools. Duplex sequencing was employed to detect and confirm pathogenic PIK3CA and TP53 variants in normal mammary tissue samples from 11 breast cancer patients with unfavorable prognosis. Statistical analyses included hypergeometric testing, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and Cox proportional hazards modeling. Results Post-zygotic pathogenic variants in cancer-associated genes were significantly more prevalent in normal mammary tissue of poor-prognosis patients (29%) than in unselected patients (12.5%) (p = 0.0008578). Variant presence and per-individual burden were similar across age-matched cohorts and intrinsic subtypes, indicating that subtype composition, germline predisposition and age do not account for the excess UM variant load in BCAP. Truncating variants were exclusive to poor-prognosis cases. Frequently altered genes included AKT1, PIK3CA, PTEN, TBX3, and TP53, with TP53 variants detected only in patients with adverse outcomes. Duplex sequencing confirmed the presence of low-frequency variants (as low as 1.34%) in regions of histologically normal breast tissue from patients with a poor prognosis. Notably, nearly one-quarter of all identified cases (24%, 12/49) harbored pathogenic variants in normal tissue absent from corresponding primary tumors, suggesting that at least some mosaic clones in uninvolved mammary tissue represent independent evolutionary events rather than residual tumor cells. Conclusions Post-zygotic pathogenic variants are frequent in histologically normal mammary tissue from breast cancer patients, including alterations in key cancer-associated genes. These findings indicate that mosaic clonal changes outside the tumor are more common than previously appreciated and warrant further investigation. Assessing such variants in non-tumorous tissue may, in the future, help refine approaches to breast cancer risk evaluation and management.
Cold ischemia time (CIT), the interval between tissue excision and preservation, is a critical preanalytical variable that profoundly impacts gene expression profiles. Variability in CIT can lead to inconsistent transcriptomic results, making study interpretation challenging and undermining reproducibility in biomedical research. Our study aimed to evaluate the impact of CIT on the expression of cancer-related genes, particularly these involved in hypoxia, apoptosis, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We performed RNA sequencing on 54 normal colon mucosa samples from nine patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgeries, freezing samples at predefined intervals ranging from 0 to 60 minutes. A total of 44 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (p < 0.05) were identified when comparing samples frozen immediately (T0) with those frozen after 60 minutes (T5). These DEGs were further analyzed through functional and pathway enrichment analyses and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The enrichment analysis revealed significant alterations in pathways associated with apoptosis, hypoxia, EMT, and cancer progression, including p53 and HIF-1 signaling. WGCNA highlighted two co-expressed gene modules: ME2, which showed downregulation of apoptosis-related genes, and ME4, linked to apoptosis and cellular metabolism. Our findings highlight CIT as a critical preanalytical variable, showing that prolonged ischemia can induce transcriptomic changes that may mimic malignancy, and potentially confound research outcomes. To minimize such effects, we recommend keeping CIT under 30 minutes.
BACKGROUND:Adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (AD-MSCs) and fibroblasts are both widely used in regenerative medicine, demonstrating significant potential for personalized cell therapy. A major challenge in their use lies in their high biological similarity, encompassing morphology, differentiation capabilities, and flow cytometric markers, making their distinction difficult. METHODS:In our study, we aimed to compare AD-MSCs obtained from two types of adipose tissue, subcutaneous and visceral, alongside skin fibroblasts. Notably, all tissue samples were sourced from the same donors. We analyzed the cells for surface antigens via flow cytometry and conducted single-cell RNA sequencing, followed by verification with quantitative PCR (qPCR). RESULTS:Our results revealed phenotypic similarities between the isolated AD-MSCs and dermal fibroblasts, particularly in the expression of markers characteristic of AD-MSCs. However, through in-depth analyses, we identified distinct differences between these cell types. Specifically, we pinpointed 30 genes exhibiting the most significant variations in expression between AD-MSCs and fibroblasts. These genes are associated with biological processes such as tissue remodeling, cell movement, and activation in response to external stimuli. Among them, MMP1, MMP3, S100A4, CXCL1, PI16, IGFBP5, COMP were further validated using qPCR, clearly demonstrating their potential to differentiate between AD-MSCs and fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS:Our scRNA-seq analysis elucidates the transcriptional landscape of AD-MSCs and fibroblasts with unprecedented resolution, highlighting both the population-specific markers and the intrapopulation heterogeneity. Our findings underscore the importance of employing high-resolution techniques for cell identification.
The study presents the development of a small-molecule epigenetic regenerative therapy that combines a demethylating agent, zebularine, with retinoic acid, acting as a transcriptional activator, and an alginate carrier. Subcutaneously injected formulations based on 2% sodium alginate containing high loads of zebularine (240 mg/ml) and retinoic acid (0.8 mg/ml) promoted regenerative responses in a mouse model of ear pinna punch wound involving the restoration of tissue architecture, the growth of nerve and vessel networks, and extensive alterations in gene methylation and expression profiles with no adverse effects in the animals. Among the remarkable changes in global gene methylation are those in neurodevelopmental genes. In vitro studies showed rapid discharge of zebularine but not retinoic acid from the alginate formulations. Live ultrasound imaging demonstrated gradual absorption of the subcutaneously injected alginate formulations, which may explain the in vivo activity of retinoic acid following subcutaneous administration. Cell culture tests exhibited no significant cytotoxicity of the alginate formulations. The simplicity of composition, preparation, and administration of alginate-based drug formulations is a distinctive advantage. The effective induction of regenerative response, together with a high safety profile of subcutaneously administered pro-regenerative alginate formulations, opens the way to testing further regenerative therapies for hard-to-reach lesions.
Introduction:Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is a complex spinal deformity affecting ~3% of the population, with a multifactorial and genetically heterogeneous origin. This study aimed to investigate the genetic origins of severe IS by examining both constitutional and post-zygotic alterations. Methods:We analyzed 70 unrelated IS-affected individuals using whole exome sequencing (WES) and SNP array approaches on intraoperatively collected articular processes and blood samples. Results:Two pathogenic constitutional copy number variants (CNVs) were identified - a 43.6 Mb duplication on chromosome 8p and trisomy X - along with eight regions of homozygosity (ROH) located on chromosomes 1, 2, 8, 12, 14, and 16, absent in ethnically matched controls. Additionally, a heterozygous DMD deletion (exons 17-36) was found in one female, and rare recurrent pathogenic single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) were detected in ENAM and FLNB genes. Notably, 13% (95% CI, 6.1-23%) of individuals harbored pathogenic variants, spanning CNVs, ROH, and SNVs, suggesting a genetic contribution to IS. Discussion:Our findings demonstrate that one in seven cases classified as idiopathic may have an underlying monogenic cause. This study underscores the polygenic and heterogeneous nature of IS and highlights the need for genetic testing by integrating WES and SNP array analyses into its diagnostic workflow. Our findings suggest that incorporating genetic testing into the diagnostic evaluation of severe IS patients may enable personalized genetic counseling and, consequently, improve clinical management.
Loss of Y chromosome (LOY) and clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) are common age-related events with implications for aging and Alzheimer disease (AD). LOY is linked to increased AD risk, whereas CHIP may be protective, and their co-occurrence remains unclear. We conducted whole-exome sequencing of CD4+ T cells, NK cells, and myeloid cells from AD patients and controls exhibiting LOY or retention of Y chromosome. We identified 39 variants in known myeloid and lymphoid driver genes, with up to 35% co-occurring with LOY in the same clone. In addition, we detected 192 unknown drivers of clonal hematopoiesis, enriched in AD-LOY individuals (odds ratio 4.8, P = 0.041). In myeloid cells, total driver burden correlated with LOY (ρ = 0.52, P = 0.00041). These results indicate that LOY is a primary driver of clonal hematopoiesis in AD, seeding myeloid clones that accumulate unknown driver variants, whereas most canonical CHIP mutations arise independently. Our study reveals distinct, partially overlapping clonal architectures for LOY and CHIP and highlights LOY-driven myeloid expansion as a contributor to AD pathogenesis.
Normal-appearing mammary tissue from breast cancer patients can harbor significant genetic alterations. We analyzed DNA variants in both normal-looking tissue and tumors from 77 poor-prognosis patients, 49 patients without prognosis bias, and mammary gland samples from 15 non-cancerous individuals. Whole exome sequencing revealed a higher prevalence of pathogenic post-zygotic variants (29%) in poor-prognosis patients, affecting genes like AKT1, PIK3CA, PTEN, TBX3, and TP53, compared to 12.5% in those without prognosis criteria (p=0.0008578). Prevailing PIK3CA variants were recurrent across patients, while TP53 variants were present only in those with adverse prognoses. Duplex sequencing detected low-frequency pathogenic PIK3CA and TP53 variants in distant normal tissues of poor-prognosis patients. Disease recurrence significantly reduced survival rates, with poor prognosis patients experiencing higher mortality within 24 months (p=0.0088), further worsened by the presence of pathogenic post-zygotic variants. These findings highlight the importance of genetic monitoring even in normal-appearing mammary tissue. ### Competing Interest Statement J.P.D. is a cofounder and shareholder in Cray Innovation AB. J.M. is a co-founder and shareholder of Genegoggle sp. z o.o. The remaining authors have declared that no competing interests exist. ### Funding Statement This work was supported by the Foundation for Polish Science under the International Research Agendas Program financed from the Smart Growth Operational Program 2014-2020 (Grant Agreement No. MAB/2018/6) to A.P. and J.P.D. Parts of the study were supported by The Swedish Cancer Society (No. 20 0889 PjF) and Swedish Medical Research Council (No. 2020-02010) to J.P.D., by The National Science Centre Poland Miniatura 4 (Project No. 2020/04/X/NZ2/02084) to K.C., and by the Austrian Science Fund FWF (P30867000) and the European Regional Development Fund (REGGEN ATCZ207) to I.T-B. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: The Bioethical Committee at the Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (approval number KB509/2010) and the Independent Bioethics Committee for Research at the Medical University of Gdańsk (approval number NKBBN/564/2018 with multiple amendments) gave ethical approval for this work. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes Raw duplex sequencing and WES data are available upon request in the EGA archive, study IDs EGAS50000000538 and EGAS50000000539 respectively.
Bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) is the 10th most common cancer with a low survival rate and strong male bias. We studied the field cancerization in BLCA using multi-sample- and multi-tissue-per-patient protocol for sensitive detection of autosomal post-zygotic chromosomal alterations and loss of chromosome Y (LOY). We analysed 277 samples of histologically normal urothelium, 145 tumors and 63 blood samples from 52 males and 15 females, using the in-house adapted Mosaic Chromosomal Alterations (MoChA) pipeline. This approach allows identification of the early aberrations in urothelium from BLCA patients. Overall, 45% of patients exhibited at least one alteration in at least one normal urothelium sample. Recurrence analysis resulted in 16 hotspots composed of either gains and copy number neutral loss of heterozygosity (CN-LOH) or deletions and CN-LOH, encompassing well-known and new BLCA cancer driver genes. Conservative assessment of LOY showed 29%, 27% and 18% of LOY-cells in tumors, blood and normal urothelium, respectively. We provide a proof of principle that our approach can characterize the earliest alterations preconditioning normal urothelium to BLCA development. Frequent LOY in blood and urothelium-derived tissues suggest its involvement in BLCA.
Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) prognosis is determined by the disease stage with low survival rates for advanced stages. Current CRC screening programs are mainly using colonoscopy, limited by its invasiveness and high cost. Therefore, non-invasive, cost-effective, and accurate alternatives are urgently needed. Objective and design: This retrospective multi-center plasma proteomics study was performed to identify potential blood-based biomarkers in 36 CRC patients and 26 healthy volunteers by high-resolution mass spectrometry proteomics followed by the validation in an independent CRC cohort (60 CRC patients and 44 healthy subjects) of identified selected biomarkers. Results: Among the 322 identified plasma proteins, 37 were changed between CRC patients and healthy volunteers and were associated with the complement cascade, cholesterol metabolism, and SERPIN family members. Increased levels in CRC patients of the complement proteins C1QB, C4B, and C5 as well as pro-inflammatory proteins, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and serum amyloid A4, constitutive (SAA4) were revealed for first time. Importantly, increased level of C5 was verified in an independent validation CRC cohort. Increased C4B and C8A levels were correlated with cancer-associated inflammation and CRC progression, while cancer-associated inflammation was linked to the acute-phase reactant leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) and ceruloplasmin. Moreover, a 4-protein signature including C4B, C8A, apolipoprotein C2 (APO) C2, and immunoglobulin heavy constant gamma 2 was changed between early and late CRC stages. Conclusion: Our results suggest that C5 could be a potential biomarker for CRC diagnosis. Further validation studies will aid the application of these new potential biomarkers to improve CRC diagnosis and patient care.
Adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (AD-MSCs) are an essential issue in modern medicine. Extensive preclinical and clinical studies have shown that mesenchymal stromal/stem cells, including AD-MSCs, have specific properties (ability to differentiate into other cells, recruitment to the site of injury) of particular importance in the regenerative process. Ongoing research aims to elucidate factors supporting AD-MSC culture and differentiation in vitro. Angiopoietin-like proteins (ANGPTLs), known for their pleiotropic effects in lipid and glucose metabolism, may play a significant role in this context. Regeneration is a complex and dynamic process controlled by many factors. ANGPTL6 (Angiopoietin-related growth factor, AGF), among many activities modulated the biological activity of stem cells. This study examined the influence of synthesized AGF-derived peptides, designated as AGF9 and AGF27, on AD-MSCs. AGF9 and AGF27 enhanced the viability and migration of AD-MSCs and acted as a chemotactic factor for these cells. AGF9 stimulated chondrogenesis and lipid synthesis during AD-MSCs differentiation, influenced AD-MSCs cytokine secretion and modulated transcriptome for such basic cell activities as migration, transport of molecules, and apoptosis. The ability of AGF9 to modulate the biological activity of AD-MSCs warrants the consideration of this peptide a noteworthy therapeutic agent that deserves further investigation for applications in regenerative medicine.
ABSTRACT Despite advances in early detection and treatment strategies, breast cancer recurrence and mortality remain a significant health issue. Recent insights suggest the prognostic potential of microscopically healthy mammary gland, in the vicinity of the breast lesion. Nonetheless, a comprehensive understanding of the gene expression profiles in these tissues and their relationship to patient outcomes is still missing. Furthermore, the increasing trend towards breast-conserving surgery may inadvertently lead to the retention of existing cancer-predisposing mutations within the normal mammary gland. This study assessed the transcriptomic profiles of 242 samples from 83 breast cancer patients with unfavorable outcomes, including paired uninvolved mammary gland samples collected at varying distances from primary lesions. As a reference, control samples from 53 mammoplasty individuals without cancer history were studied. A custom panel of 634 genes linked to breast cancer progression and metastasis was employed for expression profiling, followed by whole-transcriptome verification experiments and statistical analyses to discern molecular signatures and their clinical relevance. A distinct gene expression signature was identified in uninvolved mammary gland samples, featuring key cellular components encoding keratins, CDH1, CDH3, EPCAM cell adhesion proteins, matrix metallopeptidases, oncogenes, tumor suppressors, along with crucial genes (FOXA1, RAB25, NRG1, SPDEF, TRIM29 , and GABRP ) having dual roles in cancer. Enrichment analyses revealed disruptions in epithelial integrity, cell adhesion, and estrogen signaling. This signature, named KAOS for Keratin-Adhesion-Oncogenes-Suppressors, was significantly associated with reduced tumor size but increased mortality rates. Integrating molecular assessment of non-malignant mammary tissue into disease management could enhance survival prediction and facilitate personalized patient care.
Recently, zebularine, a small-molecule epigenetic inhibitor and retinoic acid, acting as a transcriptional activator, have been found to induce tissue regeneration. In this study, the pro-regenerative properties of zebularine and retinoic acid were combined with the potential of the alginate carrier to expand its therapeutic possibilities. Alginate formulations of zebularine and retinoic acid were developed for subcutaneous administration to mice. Hydrophilic zebularine formed a homogenous formulation with extreme drug loadings reaching 240 mg of zebularine per 1 ml of 2% sodium alginate, while hydrophobic retinoic acid, 0.8 mg/ml, dispersed as fine crystals. Cell culture tests exhibited no significant cytotoxicity of the alginate formulations. Subcutaneous administration of zebularine and retinoic acid in 2% sodium alginate promoted regenerative responses in a mouse model of ear pinna punch wound mice involving the restoration of tissue architecture, nerve and vessel growth, and extensive epigenetic and transcriptional repatterning with no adverse effects observed in the animals. Significant trancriptomic responses to the epigenetic treatment included the induction of epithelium development genes contrasted with the downregulation of muscle development genes on day 7 post-injury. Among the remarkable changes in global gene methylation are those in neurodevelopmental genes. In vitro studies showed rapid zebularine but no retinoic acid discharge from the alginate formulations. Live ultrasound imaging demonstrated gradual absorption of the subcutaneously injected alginate formulations, which may explain the in vivo activity of retinoic acid following subcutaneous administration. Effective induction of tissue regeneration together with a high safety profile and of the subcutaneously administered pro-regenerative alginate formulations opens the way to testing further regenerative therapies for hard-to-reach lesions. ### Competing Interest Statement Patent applications (P.439912, EP22214353.9A) to protect alginate formulations of zebularine and retinoic acid in regenerative therapies have been filed. The authors declare no other potential competing interests.
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) offer tremendous potential for the treatment of various diseases and their healing properties have been explored in hundreds of clinical trials. These trails primarily focus on immunological and neurological disorders, as well as regenerative medicine. Adipose tissue is a rich source of mesenchymal stromal cells and methods to obtain and culture adipose-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) have been well established. Promising results from pre-clinical testing of AD-MSCs activity prompted clinical trials that further led to the approval of AD-MSCs for the treatment of complex perianal fistulas in Crohn's disease and subcutaneous tissue defects. However, AD-MSC heterogeneity along with various manufacturing protocols or different strategies to boost their activity create the need for standardized quality control procedures and safety assessment of the intended cell product. High-resolution transcriptomic methods have been recently gaining attention, as they deliver insight into gene expression profiles of individual cells, helping to deconstruct cellular hierarchy and differentiation trajectories, and to understand cell-cell interactions within tissues. This article presents a comprehensive overview of completed clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of AD-MSC treatment, together with current single-cell studies of human AD-MSC. Furthermore, our work emphasizes the increasing significance of single-cell research in elucidating the mechanisms of cellular action and predicting their therapeutic effects.
Introduction:Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and the second leading cause of death worldwide. Efficient non-invasive blood-based biomarkers for CRC early detection and prognosis are urgently needed.Methods:To identify novel potential plasma biomarkers, we applied a proximity extension assay (PEA), an antibody-based proteomics strategy to quantify the abundance of plasma proteins in CRC development and cancer-associated inflammation from few μL of plasma sample.Results:Among the 690 quantified proteins, levels of 202 plasma proteins were significantly changed in CRC patients compared to age-and-sex-matched healthy subjects. We identified novel protein changes involved in Th17 activity, oncogenic pathways, and cancer-related inflammation with potential implications in the CRC diagnosis. Moreover, the interferon γ (IFNG), interleukin (IL) 32, and IL17C were identified as associated with the early stages of CRC, whereas lysophosphatidic acid phosphatase type 6 (ACP6), Fms-related tyrosine kinase 4 (FLT4), and MANSC domain-containing protein 1 (MANSC1) were correlated with the late-stages of CRC.Discussion:Further study to characterize the newly identified plasma protein changes from larger cohorts will facilitate the identification of potential novel diagnostic, prognostic biomarkers for CRC.
BACKGROUND:Visium Spatial Gene Expression (ST) is a method combining histological spatial information with transcriptomics profiles directly from tissue sections. The use of spatial information has made it possible to discover new modes of gene expression regulations. However, in the ST experiment, the nucleus size of cells may exceed the thickness of a tissue slice. This may, in turn, negatively affect comprehensive capturing the transcriptomics profile in a single slice, especially for tissues having large differences in the size of nuclei. METHODS:Here, we defined the effect of Consecutive Slices Data Integration (CSDI) on unveiling accurate spot clustering and deconvolution of spatial transcriptomic spots in human postmortem brains. By considering the histological information as reference, we assessed the improvement of unsupervised clustering and single nuclei RNA-seq and ST data integration before and after CSDI. RESULTS:Apart from the escalated number of defined clusters representing neuronal layers, the pattern of clusters in consecutive sections was concordant only after CSDI. Besides, the assigned cell labels to spots matches the histological pattern of tissue sections after CSDI. CONCLUSION:CSDI can be applied to investigate consecutive sections studied with ST in the human cerebral cortex, avoiding misinterpretation of spot clustering and annotation, increasing accuracy of cell recognition as well as improvement in uncovering the layers of grey matter in the human brain.
Numeric sex chromosome abnormalities are commonly associated with an increased cancer risk. Here, we report a 14-year-old boy with a rare mosaic 45, X/48, XYYY karyotype presenting with subtle dysmorphic features and relative height deficiency, requiring growth hormone therapy. As only 12 postnatal cases have been described so far with very limited follow-up data, to assess the proband's long-term prognosis, including cancer risk, we performed high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis. Although comprehensive cytogenetic analysis showed seemingly near perfect balance between 45, X and 48, XYYY cell populations, scRNA-seq revealed widespread differences in genotype distribution among immune cell fractions, specifically in monocytes, B- and T-cells. These results were confirmed at DNA level by digital-droplet PCR on flow-sorted immune cell types. Furthermore, deregulation of predominantly autosomal genes was observed, including TCL1A overexpression in 45, X B-lymphocytes and other known genes associated with hematological malignancies. Together with the standard hematological results, showing increased fractions of monocytes and CD4+/CD8+T lymphocytes ratio, long-term personalized hemato-oncological surveillance was recommended in the reported patient.
The progress in translational cancer research relies on access to well-characterized samples from a representative number of patients and controls. The rationale behind our biobanking are explorations of post-zygotic pathogenic gene variants, especially in non-tumoral tissue, which might predispose to cancers. The targeted diagnoses are carcinomas of the breast (via mastectomy or breast conserving surgery), colon and rectum, prostate, and urinary bladder (via cystectomy or transurethral resection), exocrine pancreatic carcinoma as well as metastases of colorectal cancer to the liver. The choice was based on the high incidence of these cancers and/or frequent fatal outcome. We also collect age-matched normal controls. Our still ongoing collection originates from five clinical centers and after nearly 2-year cooperation reached 1711 patients and controls, yielding a total of 23226 independent samples, with an average of 74 donors and 1010 samples collected per month. The predominant diagnosis is breast carcinoma, with 933 donors, followed by colorectal carcinoma (383 donors), prostate carcinoma (221 donors), bladder carcinoma (81 donors), exocrine pancreatic carcinoma (15 donors) and metachronous colorectal cancer metastases to liver (14 donors). Forty percent of the total sample count originates from macroscopically healthy cancer-neighboring tissue, while contribution from tumors is 12%, which adds to the uniqueness of our collection for cancer predisposition studies. Moreover, we developed two program packages, enabling registration of patients, clinical data and samples at the participating hospitals as well as the central system of sample/data management at coordinating center. The approach used by us may serve as a model for dispersed biobanking from multiple satellite hospitals. Our biobanking resource ought to stimulate research into genetic mechanisms underlying the development of common cancers. It will allow all available “-omics” approaches on DNA-, RNA-, protein- and tissue levels to be applied. The collected samples can be made available to other research groups.