Biobanking in sarcoma: lessons learned from the MOTOR biorepository

Rare cancer research is significantly hampered by the low availability of tumors and normal tissues for research and model development. This limitation is particularly evident for rare cancers such as sarcomas, which are underrepresented in most commercial and academic biobanks. Here, we describe our experience with the University of Pittsburgh Musculoskeletal Oncology Tumor Registry and Tissue Bank (MOTOR), a biorepository that collects tissue and clinical data from patients with bone and soft tissue sarcomas. MOTOR provides a centralized infrastructure for systematic biospecimen collection, storage, and data organization, enabling a wide range of studies in tumor biology, model development, and longitudinal research. We specifically emphasize standardized sample collection, storage practices, and outline how this resource can expand opportunities for laboratory studies and clinical collaborations. By presenting our approach, we aim to provide a practical framework that demonstrates how a focused biobank strengthens research infrastructure and advances efforts in a rare and diverse group of tumors.