Objectives of the Workpackage

Workpackage 0 (WP 0) has four major objectives:

•    Criteria for CTC technology evaluation
•    Criteria for analyses of circulating nucleic acids
•    Clinical-ready protocols
•    Data management and sample storage strategy

Description of the tasks

Criteria for CTC technology evaluation

This working group lead by Prof Leon Terstappen is to deliver a report defining the criteria and technology for CTC isolation, enumeration, characterization and nucleic acid extraction based on clinical needs and utility. In CANCER-ID, a unified approach to designate a cell as a CTC will be addressed by the development of an Open Source image analysis algorithm for CTC identification and enumeration.

Criteria for analyses of circulating nucleic acids

This working group lead by Prof Michael Speicher is to deliver a report defining the criteria for analyses of circulating nucleic acids. To avoid any pre-analytical and analytical variations and errors, standardized conditions will be established, including standardized protocols for sample storage, sampling procedures, isolation methodologies for circulating DNA, exosomes and miRNAs.

Clinical-ready protocols

This working group lead by Prof Caroline Dive will develop simple clinic-ready protocols for blood collection allowing sample integrity at room temperature for up to 4 days and analysis of ctDNA, miRNAs and CTCs from the same blood collection tube. This is an important step for future use in multisite clinical trials.

Data management and sample storage strategy

This working group lead by Dr. Bodo Lange will pre-evaluate the existing data management platforms, data standards and data analysis workflows and define further development needs and application plans for CANCER-ID data management and data analysis. The objective being to provide access to the system via a web interface, with a relational database that is independent from the project data integration platform, ensuring separation and security of clinical data. 

>> WP 1: Large indication: Lung cancer

Participants