Our Research and the Robert Lane Tissue Bank

The Robert Lane Tissue Bank

This is an internationally important resource for researchers into penile, testicular and prostate cancer and was the main focus of Orchid’s research funding in recent years.

Over 58,000 men are diagnosed each year in the UK with prostate, testicular or penile cancer and sadly these numbers are rising. Tragically, over 12,000 of these men will die from one of these cancers.

Research is vital to understand why men develop these cancers and to improve diagnosis and treatment. This is why Orchid was proud to support the work of the Robert Lane Tissue Bank, led by Professor Dan Berney, for many years.

Located within the Centre for Molecular Oncology at the Barts Cancer Institute in London, the Robert Lane Tissue Bank holds samples which are connected to clinical trial data, making it an invaluable resource for future research. The size of the collection, and the way the specimens are connected to clinical trials, is globally unique.

The work is focused on the pathology and natural history of prostate, testicular and penile cancer. The collections of tissue samples are available not only for research by the Robert Lane Tissue Bank but by collaborators in the UK and worldwide.

What is in the Tissue Bank?

The tissue bank holds over 13,000 tissue specimens, including:

Tumours from nine separate clinical trials.
Over 600 penile cancer specimens, the largest collection in Europe.
Over 3,000 testicular cancer specimens, the largest collection in Europe.
Over 6,000 prostate cancer specimens.
The unique Trans-Atlantic Prostate Group resource for prostate cancer of now over 2,000 prostate cancers.
Over 1,200 blood samples, collected and separated into Circulating Tumour Cells (CTCs), plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets for separate storage and future research.
Access to the 10,000 strong STAMPEDE cohort, the largest collection of prostate cancers in a clinical trial.

The fact that every sample is donated by someone dealing with a cancer diagnosis and undergoing treatment is never forgotten. Tissue samples are treated with profound respect and everyone is forever grateful to the donors for thinking of others at such a difficult time.

Circulating Tumour Cell Research

Circulating Tumour Cells (CTCs) are held in the tissue bank for experimental research. This research is about cancer genetics and circulating biomarkers, including Circulating Tumour Cells. The aim of the project, which has previously received Orchid funding, is to:

Understand how prostate cancer starts, develops and responds to therapies.
Develop biomarkers to help with diagnosis, understanding how the disease might progress in individuals and how to predict treatment outcomes. This research is also relevant to testicular and penile cancers.

About Robert Lane CBE

In 2020, the Orchid Research Tissue Bank was renamed in honour of Robert Lane CBE, the former Chair of Orchid who died unexpectedly while still representing Orchid.

Robert Lane served Orchid and the male cancer cause with great distinction, drive and commitment for twelve years. He is remembered with much affection and warmth by the Orchid trustees, staff and our wider community.