*Histology of human tissue. Credit: Canva*

Here at RCRF, it is our belief that the work we do to connect generously donated tissue and fluid samples through Pattern.org to researchers in need is greatly helping to accelerate progress toward better therapies and cures for rare cancer patients.

To affirm this belief and provide a real-world perspective, we spoke with Dr. Yuen-Yi “Moony” Tseng, a senior research scientist at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, one of our partnering institutions. In this piece, Dr. Tseng discusses how she is working to create better outcomes for rare cancer patients through the samples we are able to offer and beyond.

Q: How did you become involved in cancer research?

A: I studied engineering when I was in Taiwan, which is where I developed a great interest in biotechnology in the western world. This is what led me to come to the United States and receive my Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, and that’s how I became involved in biology and cancer research.

Q: How did you become involved with The Rare Cancer Research Foundation?

A: After graduating from the University of Minnesota, I took on the role of leading the Research and Development Team at the Broad Institute’s Cancer Cell Line Factory. Our mission was to develop cancer models from patient tumor biospecimens, enabling their use by researchers across various fields. We aim to avoid redundant investments of time and resources into generating the same cancer types, as this does not effectively contribute to mapping out cancer targets. Our goal is to ensure good cell line representation across individual cancer types. To achieve this, we began identifying gaps in our current cancer cell line collection and pinpointed areas where additional efforts are needed to bridge these gaps. Rare cancer is definitely one of the major gaps.

We recognize that rare cancers collectively account for a quarter of the cancer population, yet we lack sufficient—or in some cases, any—cancer cell lines to represent these types. This led us to ask, “How can we obtain more patient samples in this area?” rather than limiting ourselves to one or two hospitals where such cases are infrequent. By exploring ways to collaborate across institutions and geographical borders to bring in these specimens for cell line generation, we can achieve significant breakthroughs. This shared vision is how we connected and began pursuing this initiative.

Q: Why are tissue and fluid so important for cancer research, especially within a rare cancer context?

A: For generating cancer cell lines and/or organoids, we need live cells upon arrival at the institution. This creates a race against time. After patients undergo surgery, the specimens must arrive within 72 hours, kept ice-cold and viable, as this is critical for successful model generation.

Q: How has RCRF’s Pattern.org (our biospecimen donation platform) directly impacted your research?

A: It has streamlined our efforts significantly. Previously, our team had to focus not only on experimental design and execution, but also on communicating directly with patients and their doctors in clinics, which was time-consuming. Now, with RCRF taking on the major responsibilities—identifying patients, addressing their needs and concerns, collaborating with doctors to acquire samples, and ensuring timely shipment of biospecimens—it has been a game-changer for our work.

Q: What are some examples of important findings that have happened in your lab as a result of donated tissue or fluid (whether it be from Pattern.org or elsewhere)?

A: Many cancer cell line collections are limited to collaborations with a single hospital, which often results in a less diverse patient cohort. By partnering with RCRF, we’ve significantly expanded our access to a more diverse patient population. From a genomic standpoint, this has allowed us to identify a wider range of genotypes and driver events that were previously unavailable. As a result, we now have multiple new models to test hypotheses, greatly enhancing our research capabilities.

Q: Why is there such urgency for more biological samples for use in cancer research?

A: Cancer is an incredibly heterogeneous disease. While we currently have thousands of cancer cell lines, they often lack representation across different ethnicities, cancer types, and rare mutations. This underscores the need for more diverse samples to better understand genotype, phenotype, and ethnic variations. Partnering with RCRF has been a critical step in addressing this gap and advancing our research.

Q: If you were talking with someone who has rare cancer and they are on the fence about donating, what would you say to them?

A: We recognize that patients and their families are often facing an incredibly stressful and critical time. Collecting biospecimens adds an extra step that may feel burdensome, but we want them to know that their contribution can lead to the development of vital cancer cell models. These models enable not only academic researchers but also pharmaceutical companies to discover new drugs, offering future therapeutic options for patients in need. It’s a selfless act, and we are deeply grateful for their generosity.

The Importance of Sample Donation: A Conversation with Dr. Tseng