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Obtaining 'fresh' consent for genetic research with biological samples archived 10 years ago
Eric Vermeulen1, Marjanka K Schmidt1, Neil K Aaronson1
1Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Objective:
To obtain consent from breast cancer survivors to use residual tissue for a study on carriership of germ line mutations in the BRCA 1 and 2 genes. To investigate which consent regimen patients prefer for research with archived tissue.
Participants:
One hundred and thirty-two patients surgically treated for breast cancer between 1995 and 1997 in the Netherlands Cancer Institute were mailed a consent form and a questionnaire.
Results:
A consent form was obtained from 90%; 3% withheld consent for the use of archived tissue. A completed questionnaire was returned by 84%. 'One-time general consent' was considered to be the best procedure for consenting to research with stored tissue by 56%, 23% favoured the current 'opt-out' procedure; 21% did not know or had no preference.
Conclusion:
Obtaining fresh consent for genetic research with stored tissue is possible at the cost of time and effort. Most patients give consent for research with residual tissue.
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Ethics in Research
DNA Isolation
Genetic Material
Archival Research

