The Thymoma Tissue Bank
at MGH

Thymoma is an extremely rare tumor originating from the thymus. According to data from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, the overall incidence of thymoma is 0.15 per 100,000 person-years. Research and drug development in thymoma are thus limited.

Precious tissues collected during surgical removal are scattered among various hospitals. So that these specimens can be shared by research teams, regardless of their locations, a centralized bank is essential.

No thymoma-specific tissue banks have been created anywhere in the world until now. The Cadorette Fund for Thymoma Research has made the establishment of the MGH Thymoma Tissue Bank possible, but time-critical research depends on the donation of tissue by anyone facing surgery for Malignant Thymoma.

Tumor banking involves not only tissue storage, but also a series of protocols that allow appropriate studies of tumor samples. Moreover, the bank represents a global facility that allows surgeons, clinicians and pathologists to collaborate for a better understanding of the disease.

Without tissue samples there can be no meaningful research, understanding and new treatments for the disease. Tissue banking enables:

• Limitless numbers of stored samples

• Anytime access to stored samples that though taken over time — even over decades — can be used as if freshly collected

• Use of a single tissue sample for multiple projects

• Researchers interested in thymus-related diseases would be able to work in a unique location with enough tissue to conduct research.

Massachusetts General Hospital is a major referral center for complex thoracic problems. Its thoracic team offers a multidisciplinary approach to new cases of thymic malignancies that can take advantage of the expertise of the hospital’s thoracic radiologists, thoracic surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists and dedicated pathologists.

The tissue bank is now available. Patients are being screened and our first specimen has been received.

To watch a video about tissue banking, please click here.