Landi M T, Caporaso N
Genetic Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-7360, USA.
IARC Sci Publ. 1997(142):223-36.
We review issues related to the inclusion of biospecimens in epidemiological studies. Technical advances and the revolution in molecular biology have rendered the use of biomarkers increasingly feasible in epidemiological investigations, however the cost and complexity require interdisciplinary expertise and careful attention to methodological detail in order to ensure validity. The widespread banking of biospecimens for long-term (cohort) studies requires special attention to be paid to these issues. Blood, urine and tumour tissue are in common use in medicine and at least some aspects of sample handling derives directly from this clinical experience, although special considerations apply in the epidemiological setting. An increasingly broad array of biospecimen types have been studied, including exhaled air, nail clippings, buccal cells, saliva, semen, faeces and breast milk. Relevant issues in the processing, storage, shipping, timing of collection and safety procedures are examined in terms of their potential to distort results. The role of carefully developed quality control protocols is emphasized. In order to take full advantage of the opportunities afforded by the use of biomarkers in epidemiological studies, careful attention to biospecimen processing, the stability of the biomarker and the precautions to be taken during transportation and storage of samples is necessary.
我们回顾了与生物样本纳入流行病学研究相关的问题。技术进步和分子生物学革命使生物标志物在流行病学调查中的应用越来越可行，然而成本和复杂性要求具备跨学科专业知识并仔细关注方法细节，以确保有效性。为长期（队列）研究广泛储存生物样本需要特别关注这些问题。血液、尿液和肿瘤组织在医学中常用，样本处理的至少某些方面直接源于这种临床经验，尽管在流行病学环境中有特殊考虑因素。已研究的生物样本类型越来越广泛，包括呼出的空气、指甲剪、颊细胞、唾液、精液、粪便和母乳。从可能扭曲结果的角度审视了处理、储存、运输、采集时间和安全程序等相关问题。强调了精心制定的质量控制方案的作用。为了充分利用在流行病学研究中使用生物标志物所带来的机会，必须仔细关注生物样本处理、生物标志物的稳定性以及样本运输和储存期间应采取的预防措施。
