Cancer research for and with patients
PATH, the Patients’ Tumor Bank of Hope, is a charitable foundation. It supports people with cancer in the search for better present and future treatment options. At the same time, PATH wants to advance molecular genetic research on cancer diagnosis and treatment by supplying donated tissue samples. The PATH Foundation came into being in 2002 on the initiative of mamazone, a breast cancer organization supporting women and research against breast cancer. Women with breast cancer who have undergone an operation at one of PATH’s cooperating hospitals can participate in the PATH project.
The PATH Foundation collects tumor tissue, normal tissue, blood serum and data from breast cancer patients so that they can be used in cancer research. The tissue (fresh frozen) is made available to university and industrial establishments for research purposes.
The PATH Foundation grew out of the commitment of patients. PATH is the biggest breast cancer biobank in the world to be established and managed by patients.
Molecular genetic examination of tumor tissue is an important tool in cancer research and provides a basis from which to develop new treatments. Tumor samples collected by PATH have provided the basis for numerous publications in prestigious scientific journals and for abstracts and posters presented at conferences.
