Overview
What It Is
The Spanish Group of Ovarian Cancer Research (GEICO), in collaboration with the Spanish Biobank Network (Red Nacional de BioBancos — RNBB), has developed a multicentre, multistakeholder, prospective virtual clinical registry (VCR) associated with biobanks for the collection of real-world data and biological samples of gynaecological cancer patients. This collaborative project aims to promote research by providing broad access to high-quality clinical data and biospecimens for future research, and to increase diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities for gynaecological cancer patients in Spain. nih
This is explicitly and exclusively a gynecologic cancer resource — one of very few large-scale registries of this kind linked directly to a biobank network.
Who Is Involved
GEICO (Grupo Español de Investigación en Cáncer de Ovario/Ginecológico) is Spain's leading gynecologic oncology research group, with a strong track record in clinical trials and translational research across ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancers.
RNBB (Red Nacional de BioBancos) is Spain's national biobank network — a federated infrastructure of hospital and regional biobanks operating under national ISCIII (Instituto de Salud Carlos III) oversight.
Participating institutions include: Instituto Valenciano de Oncología (IVO), Hospital Universitario La Paz (Madrid), Hospital Clínico de Valencia (INCLIVA/CIBERONC), Hospital Ramón y Cajal (Madrid), Hospital Clínico San Carlos (Madrid), Hospital Miguel Servet (Zaragoza), Hospital Son Espases (Palma), Hospital Virgen de la Salud (Toledo), Hospital Infanta Sofía (Madrid), and many others across Spain.
Scale & Cohorts
The VCR will include the participation of more than 60 Spanish hospitals entering relevant clinical information in harmonised electronic case report forms (eCRFs) in four different cohorts: ovarian, endometrial, cervical, and rare gynaecological cancers (gestational trophoblastic disease).
As of December 2021, 30 active sites had recruited a total of 655 patients, distributed as follows: Ovarian Cancer (377), Endometrial Cancer (206), Cervical Cancer (67), and Rare Tumours (5). nih
A total of 49 centres distributed throughout Spanish territory were participating in the VCR at time of publication, with pilot study centres and subsequently added centres across multiple phases of expansion.
Biospecimens Collected
The main types of associated biospecimens collected are formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue, plasma, serum, and buffy coat. Additional collected samples include fresh-frozen tissue, EDTA plasma, PBMCs, peritoneal lavage, and others — with the type of biospecimen decided by each site's research team in agreement with the biobank manager.
Data Structure
Clinical data is entered into harmonised eCRFs via a web-based application. Patients sign two informed consent forms — one for the VCR (clinical data) and one for the biobank (biospecimens and minimal data). Access to both clinical data and biological samples is managed through a single access point via the RNBB, with formal Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) and Data Transfer Agreements (DTAs) in place. Governance involves a Scientific Committee, Independent Ethics Committee, and Executive Committee.
Relevance to Gyne Cancer Research
This resource is uniquely relevant to gynecologic oncology in several ways:
- It is one of the only prospective, pan-gyne cancer registries (covering ovarian, endometrial, cervical, and rare types) in Europe linked to a national biobank network
- The biospecimen linkage — particularly FFPE tissue, plasma, serum, and peritoneal lavage — makes it directly compatible with molecular profiling studies including genomics, proteomics, liquid biopsy, and immunophenotyping
- The prospective design with harmonised eCRFs enables real-world outcome data collection with well-annotated clinical context, unlike retrospective chart reviews
- It is run by GEICO, which is Spain's primary gynecologic oncology clinical trial group, meaning the registry can feed directly into trial design, biomarker study eligibility, and translational sub-studies
- The CIBERONC affiliation of several participating sites provides additional molecular genomics infrastructure
- Spain's universal healthcare system means the patient population reflects a broadly representative European gyne cancer population, unlike registry data from highly selected academic centers
Notes
Virtual registry model linking multiple Spanish biobanks. 30+ active sites.