Inside the MCRC Biobank
This article was originally published in Issue One of Discover: Cancer Research In Manchester. All articles are available to read on the MCRC website and a PDF version can be accessed through the links at the end of the page.
The Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC) Biobank is a vital resource that supports cancer researchers and patients in Manchester. Based at The Christie, the Biobank collects and stores samples from patients across the region for researchers to use in their cancer research projects.
Sharzad Harrap, MCRC Biobank Coordinator at The Christie explains how the MCRC Biobank works and the critical role it plays in advancing cancer research.
The MCRC Biobank collects a range of samples for use in research, these include:
- Tumour samples
- Matched normal samples- taken from a normal part of the same tissue as the tumour for comparison
- FFPE tissue- tissue fixed in a preservative and embedded in wax
- All different blood types
- Urine samples
- Ascitic and pleural fluids- fluid build-up in the abdomen and around the lungs
- Stool samples
- Saliva samples
“This is tissue that would likely have been disposed of anyway and they’re such useful samples for research!” explains Sharzad.
Patients are coming to The Christie from across the UK to receive specialist care for rare tumour types that might not be seen in other locations. By banking these samples, it give us access to rare tumours before we start the research§
Sharzad Harrap
MCRC Biobank Coordinator
How the MCRC Biobank works
As of March 2025, 29,150 patients have consented onto the MCRC Biobank and have donated more than 232,000 samples, with more than 106,000 used by researchers.
1) Patient Consent
Patients interested in donation consent by signing a MCRC Biobank consent form, accompanied by a detailed patient information sheet.
2) Sample Collection
Samples are collected from patients, mostly this is done during their routine appointments and procedures.
3) Sample Processing
Samples are barcoded and linked to the patient’s assigned Biobank number to ensure anonymity.
4) Sample Storage
Samples are stored in line with set guidelines until needed.
5) Sample Request
Samples are requested based on the needs of the research.
6) Sample Use
Samples are used in a cancer research project.
Collection models
Collections have changed a lot since the first sample was banked in 2008, Sharzad explains. “We now do bespoke collections– we adapt to what the research needs and let that drive our collections”.
The MCRC Biobank works differently to many other facilities as they can collect samples and send them out straight away, meaning the samples are in the hands of researchers as soon as possible.
This is called a prospective collection, and it is made possible by collaborations with the surgeons and pathologists who take the samples from patients.
As part of their routine collections, where samples are collected and stored for future use, the MCRC Biobank also obtains rare tumour samples.
“Patients are coming to The Christie from across the UK to receive specialist care for rare tumour types that might not be seen in other locations. By banking these samples, it give us access to rare tumours before we start the research” Sharzad explains.
The MCRC Biobank currently has 70 active projects, 23 of which focus on rare cancers such as penile cancer, salivary cancer and cancer of unknown primary (CUP).
Accessing the Biobank for Research
PhD student Sara Cabral talks about how she used the Biobank in her work on bone metastasis in breast cancer.
“My project is looking at a protein called osteomodulin which is found in the extracellular matrix- the supportive network that surrounds cells in breast tissue. We’ve found a link between expression of osteomodulin and increased risk of bone metastasis, and we’re trying to understand this better by developing new models”, Sara explains.
The Biobank helped Sara set up a bespoke, prospective collection for bone products so that she could create an accurate model of the bone using advanced 3D printing technology.
“We use bone donated by women undergoing a total hip replacement at Wythenshawe Hospital. It’s a waste product, so using it for research is a win-win!”
Sara’s work aims to see if osteomodulin could act as a biomarker- a biological indicator – to predict whether a woman with breast cancer is likely to develop bone metastasis.
“If we could identify women early on, it could help guide their treatment. For example, they could be started on an anti-absorptive therapy like Zoledronic acid which has been shown to reduce the chance of metastasis” Sara says.
