Tissue Collection & Preservation
Steps involved in providing NTTR's standard services are as follows:
- Informed Consent
- Collection of Biospecimens
- Snap Freezing & Coding
- Storage
- Tissue Repository Data Base
Additional Services offered by NTTR
- Temporary Storage of Biospecimens (Hotel Services)
- Follow Up Data
Informed Consent
Informed consent is administered to the patient preoperatively with the help of surgery residents and nurses. All the care is taken by NTTR staff to protect the patients’ interest and rights.
Collection of the Specimens
Tissue is for the diagnosis first. Only surplus tissue is collected for the repository without compromising histopathologic diagnosis.
The freshly delivered operative specimen (tumour and normal) is incised with different sterile scalpel blades (for tumour and normal) and quickly a portion of tissue (aprox. 1 cubic cm ) is removed under the supervision of surgeon in the operation theatre / or pathologist in the frozen section room under sterile conditions.
Virtually all types of tissues are collected except necrotic tissues from every organ and site, of every histology, regardless of prior treatment status and regardless of any infective status.
If possible, blood is also collected simultaneously during the patients’ operative procedure in OT by the anesthetist. The blood, so collected, is processed to separate serum, plasma & buffy coat & separated components are then frozen.
Tissues are collected in cryovials and rapidly snap frozen in liquid nitrogen in a portable Dewar flask within 5 minutes so as to prevent degradation of RNA and protein. Time from tissue excision to freezing is noted in the data base of NTTR.
Cryovials are coded so as to maintain confidentiality of the patients.
Cryovials are stored in liquid nitrogen containers or -80 0C deep freezers.
Tissue Repository Data base
The repository collection includes a variety of tumour tissues, as well as normal tissues and blood whenever available.
NTTR collection summary from May 2005 to March 2024
No of Cases Till 31st March 2024 (51,982)
No of Samples Till 31st March 2024 (83,930)
A computer program for easy accessibility, disbursement of specimens and follow up data is developed. The data base is linked to Hospital Diagnostic Information System.
Data base includes physical location of the sample, site wise availability of tissues and other basic demographic data.
Temporary storage of biospecimens ("Hotel" Services)
Deep freezer and liquid nitrogen storage facility of NTTR can be used for temporary storage of biospecimens by the investigators. Investigators will have to notify the NTTR regarding types of samples, title & IRB number of the project. Investigators will also be required to keep their own records of freezer location.
Follow Up Data
Besides basic data of the samples requested, extra clinical data are also provided to the researchers as per their need.
Follow up data are retrieved from the Medical Records Office by NTTR staff.
Quality Control
Representativeness of the lesion and histopathologic diagnosis of collected tissues is assessed by histopathologist and integrity of tissues (nucleic acid quality and quantity) is checked by Molecular Pathology Laboratory. The investigators are asked to fill up feedback form and their comments/suggestions are sought.
To download a Requisition Form, Please click here
Requisition Form A-NTTR, Please click here
Requisition Form B-NTTR, Please click here
For TMC Investigators;
Please note that samples will be issued only to IRB approved projects. Attach a copy of IRB approval along with the Requisition Form.
For requests from other institutes: Please send duly filled & signed Material Transfer Agreement Form along with the Requisition Form and a soft copy of Project Proposal for which tissues are being asked for.
For Material Transfer Agreement Form, Please click here
Send your duly filled and signed Requisition Form / Material Transfer Agreement Form to
National Tumour Tissue Repository
5th Floor, Annexe Building,
Tata Memorial Hospital,
Dr E Borges Marg,
Parel, Mumbai- 400 012
Or Scan and Mail to: ttrtmh@gmail.com
National Tumour Tissue Repository
5th Floor, Annexe Building,
Tata Memorial Hospital,
Dr E Borges Road,
Parel, Mumbai – 400 012. India
Telephone : 91-22- 24177000 Extension- 4359
Email-id: ttrtmh@gmail.com
Dr Sangeeta Desai / Ms. Manisha Kulkarni, Department of Pathology,
Tata Memorial Hospital
Email-id: sangeetabdesai@gmail.com
Email-id: manishabkulkarni@gmail.com