Advocate Angle: How biobanking can empower a cancer patient

05/12/2026

Written by Anna Wilson, BS, BA; NRG Oncology Patient Advocate Committee Member

A new cancer diagnoses can leave a patient feeling powerless. Not only can it be physically draining, but it is also mentally draining. From my personal experience with a cancer diagnoses, I know this all too well. As an oncology research coordinator, I see this every day.

When the research nurse who I work with and I approach a patient to ask them to participate in a clinical trial, often we are met with apprehension (“I don’t want to be a guinea pig!”). However, once we explain that the trials we are looking to put the patient on are monitored and the patient will be safe, a patient is usually quite happy to participate.

And then we get to the part of the consent where we talk about bio-banking. I feel that the term “biobanking” can be a bit….unknown. It sounds like we are going to take samples from the patient and stick them in a big warehouse! This can feel overwhelming to the patient.

When we discuss biobanking with the patient, I like to break it down into a few topics.  Thanks to information I have garnered from the NCI, I am able to help guide our patients.:

• What are biospecimens?

Biospecimens are biological materials such as tissue, blood, plasma, and urine that come from people and can be used for cancer diagnosis, analysis, and basic research. Biospecimens may contain DNA, RNA, proteins, and other molecules important for understanding disease – they help to tell the story of the patient’s cancer

• What happens to donated biospecimens?

Biospecimens can be used for medical care, and a patient can donate biospecimens for use in cancer research. It is important that people from all communities participate in research, so that all can benefit from new discoveries.

• Is it safe to donate biospecimens?

The simple answer is “yes!”. We want to protect our patients. We do this by following Good Clinical Practice (GCP). GCP is an international ethical and scientific quality standard for designing, conducting, recording, and reporting clinical trials involving human subjects. It ensures participant safety, rights, and data integrity, adhering to ICH E6(R3) and regulatory requirements like the FDA. It is mandatory for NIH-funded and most clinical research.

Now, how can participating in biobanking empower a patient? You see, cancer is smart. By allowing scientists to run experiments on biobank specimens, we can be that much closer to outsmarting cancer. Every time our patients agree to banking biospecimens, they are providing the tools to help our scientists find the cure. This is a way that our cancer patients can help protect future generations. The way I see it, this is how our cancer patients are not letting cancer win. How empowering is that?

After my second recurrence of endometrial cancer, I was given the opportunity to participate in a trial, which included biobanking. All they needed was some of my tumor tissue. I sure was not going to use it! It felt so good to know that I was helping fight this disease, both for myself and others.

Encourage your patients to biobank when they can but always be respectful of their decision. This is their fight and it is an honor to be part of their fight.

About the Author

Anna Wilson, BS, BA, is a cancer survivor, patient advocate, and oncology research professional who brings both personal experience and clinical expertise to her role on the NRG Oncology Patient Advocate Committee. Diagnosed with ovarian and endometrial cancer in 2016, with a recurrence in 2019, she also participated in the STRATA clinical trial, which strengthened her passion for advancing research that improves patient-reported outcomes and enhances quality of life throughout the cancer journey. She currently serves as an Oncology Research Coordinator for the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, part of Sanford Health, supporting clinical research across western Wisconsin.

Beyond her professional work, Anna has been active in advocacy through Survivors Teaching Students as well as organizations such as the Wisconsin Ovarian Cancer Alliance and the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. She was inspired to join the NRG PAC because of NRG Oncology’s mission to improve not only cancer treatments but also patients’ experiences during and after care. Outside of her advocacy, Anna enjoys photography and spending time with her husband and son, who continue to be her biggest supporters.