Research autopsy programmes in oncology: shared experience from 14 centres across the world

• DOI: 10.1002/path.6271
• Publication Date: 2024-03-29T15:09:50Z
• Authors: Tatjana Geukens; Marion Maetens; Jody E Hooper; Steffi Oesterreich; Adrian V Lee; Lori Miller; Jenny M Atkinson; Margaret Rosenzweig; Shannon Puhalla; Heather Thorne; Lisa Devereux; David Bowtell; Sherene Loi; Eliza R Bacon; Kena Ihle; Mihae Song; Lorna Rodriguez‐R...; Alana L Welm; Lisa Gauchay; Rajmohan Murali; Pharto Chanda; Ali Karacay; Cristina Naceur‐L...; Hayley Bridger; Charles Swanton; Mariam Jamal‐Hanjani; Lori Kollath; Lawrence True; Colm Morrissey; Meagan Chambers; Arul M Chinnaiyan; Allecia Wilson; Rohit Mehra; Zachery Reichert; Lisa A Carey; Charles M Perou; Erin Kelly; Daichi Maeda; Akiteru Goto; Janina Kulka; Borbála Székely; A Marcell Szasz; Anna‐Mária Tőkés; Wouter Van Den Bo...; Giuseppe Floris; Christine Desmedt
• Keywords: Clinical Oncology; Translational Research

While there is a great clinical need to understand the biology of metastatic cancer in order treat it more effectively, research hampered by limited sample availability. Research autopsy programmes can crucially advance field through synchronous, extensive, and high-volume collection. However, remains an underused strategy translational research. Via extensive questionnaire, we collected information on study design, enrolment strategy, conduct, data management, challenges opportunities oncology worldwide. Fourteen participated this study. Eight operated 24 h/7 days, resulting lower median postmortem interval (time between death start autopsy, 4 h) compared with those operating during working hours (9 h). Most (n = 10) succeeded collecting all samples within 12 h after death. A large number tumour sites were sampled each (median 15.5 per patient). The patient was 58, including different processing methods for but also non-tumour tissues liquid biopsies. Unique biological insights derived from these included progression, treatment resistance, disease heterogeneity, dormancy, interactions micro-environment, representation Tumour patient-derived xenograft (PDX) or organoid (PDO) models additionally established, allowing drug discovery sensitivity assays. Apart achievements, present related collections strategies overcome them, based shared experience 14 programmes. Through work, hope increase transparency tissue donation, encourage aid creation new programmes, foster collaborations unique collections. © 2024 Authors. Journal Pathology published John Wiley & Sons Ltd behalf Pathological Society Great Britain Ireland.