We are proud to announce that the breast cancer biobanking activities of the RRCancer have received an important contribution. The Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation has committed $1 million over four years to support the collection of biological tissues (normal breast tissue, breast tumours, blood) and pertinent clinical data from women who consent to participate in the program. These monies will be shared by the five major breast cancer banking sites of the RRCancer at the MUHC, CHUM, CHUQ, CHA and the CHUS.

In addition, this contribution will allow us to develop a new program to bank circulating tumour cells from the blood of breast cancer patients. These cancer cells found in the blood are thought to represent the cells able to seed distant organs and initiate the metastatic disease which is associated with poor outcomes.