The Valorization of Tumor Collections: Reconciling the Interests of the Different Actors

Abstract

Tumor banks are at the heart of many expectations, hopes, and objectives, and must consider the often-contradictory interests of the different actors wishing to ensure best use is made of collections of human biological material. These actors include:

• People who want to know their medical status (patients and their families) but who want to be sure medical practitioners and researchers respect their informed consent when accessing their sample and information stored in tumor banks;

• People who produce and use medical information (medical practitioners, researchers, professional societies), who question how this information is produced and provided;

• People who finance research and development, who want optimal use to be made of these resources, or even to make a profit from them;

• People who supply biological samples and associated data (managers of collections or biological resource centers), who want to maximize the use and development of their resources;

• People who control biological resources (public control structures, public health decision-makers), for whom assessing the risks associated with using samples is paramount;

• Civil society, which influences the acceptability of the development of biobanks.