Abstract
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.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 17, 2009
Accepted:
November 19,
2008
Received in revised form:
November 11,
2008
Received:
June 20,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Published by Elsevier Inc.
