Enhancing translational research in metastatic cancer through an open science environment: the UPTIDER experience
Translational research in metastatic cancer is limited by insufficient metastatic samples. Post-mortem tissue donation programs address this issue by facilitating comprehensive sample collection. Sustaining such programs requires an open science environment (OSE) to ensure multidisciplinary collaboration, research standards, and patient privacy. While often seen at publication, we demonstrate the benefit of developing upstream phases by presenting the OSE from our institutional post-mortem tissue donation program UPTIDER (NCT04531696). It contains (i) an electronic case report form to capture >750 clinical features including treatment lines and metastases, (ii) a lab information management system to track >100 metadata features from logistical to anatomical information, (iii) a code versioning system, (iv) long-term data and sample storage, and (v) code and data sharing upon publication. By ensuring latest access to information, our OSE reflects the potential to accelerate translational research. While our OSE was tailored for UPTIDER, we believe our experiences can inspire others.
Authors
- Patrick Neven (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1434-9460)
- Kristien Borremans (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7047-1543)
- F. Richard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4757-7029)
- Marion Maetens (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0505-2622)
- Anirudh Pabba (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2002-6956)
- Amena Mahdami (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3226-6933)
- Josephine Van Cauwenberge (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9802-186X)
- Madita Nysen
- Sophia Leduc (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4931-1999)
- Elia Mario Biganzoli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1202-5873)
- Christine Desmedt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5223-5579)
- Ha Linh Nguyen
- Maxim De Schepper (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9829-8535)
- Hans Wildiers (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8990-7837)
- Karen Van Baelen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5700-3574)
- Gitte Zels (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6332-3830)
- Tatjana Geukens (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8828-8739)
- Giuseppe Floris (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2391-5425)
- Bram Boeckx (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0296-6680)
- E. Rousseau
- Wouter Van Den Bogaert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5803-3409)
- Sigrid Hatse (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6764-2628)
- Diether Lambrechts
- Peter Vermeulen
- Angelica Di Tommaso
Institutions
- University of Milan (IT)
- Breast Cancer Research Foundation (US)
- Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven (BE)
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology (BE)
- Ziekenhuisnetwerk Antwerpen Stuivenberg (BE)
- KU Leuven (BE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Precision Oncology
- Published
- 2025-11-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41698-025-01110-5
- Primary Topic
- Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- KU Leuven