Janus Serum Bank
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Janus Serum Bank is a population-based biobank reserved for cancer research which contains blood samples from 318 628 Norwegians. The biobank is internationally unique in terms of size and cancer cases. On these pages you will find useful information for participants and researchers.
During the period 1972 to 2004 samples were collected from people who participated in different health surveys across Norway as well as blood donors from Oslo and surrounding areas. The samples are stored at –25° Celsius and can be used for cancer research.
Annual linkage to the Cancer Registry of Norway show that there are registered 123 719 cancer cases among the participants in Janus Serum Bank as of December 31 2023.
Purpose
Janus Serum Bank's purpose is cancer research. Biological material and personal health data from Janus Serum Bank are used for analyzes and research that can provide knowledge about the population's health, but cannot be used for purposes that are inconsistent with the original purpose.
Legal basis and responsibilities
Janus Serum Bank is a general research biobank with approval from the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REK), ref. 2017/366.
Janus Serum Bank has a legal basis for processing health data according to the EU's personal data protection regulation (REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data) Article 6(1)(e) and Article 9(2)(j), and Regulations on population-based health examinations (FOR-2018-04-27-645).
The Cancer Registry of Norway is the institution responsible for research and the data controller is Norwegian Institute of Public Health, where the daily responsibilities is appointed to the Cancer Registry of Norway. The person responsible for Janus Serum Bank is Hilde Langseth, MSc, Ph.D.
News
Seminar on RNA and Genetic Variants as Biomarkers for Endometrial Cancer
In early June, the project group working on “The Importance of RNA and Genetic Variants in Endometrial Cancer Development” organized a seminar at the Cancer Registry of Norway. During this event, we hosted partners from the National Cancer Institute in the USA, the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, the University of Bergen, and a clinical partner from Oslo University Hospital. The seminar provided an excellent opportunity to present project progress and engage in discussions about maximizing the value of our pre-diagnostic data from the Janus Serum Bank.
Our postdoctoral fellows presented recently published findings related to miRNA expression before diagnosis. Additionally, we explored how these data can be utilized in Mendelian Randomization Analysis to study causality. The seminar covered exciting topics in epidemiology, bioinformatics, biostatistics, clinical perspectives, and FAIR data sharing (Seminar program). We eagerly anticipate further collaboration and progress on the project.
For a more detailed project description, please visit the project page.
Biomarkers can reveal early stages of lung cancer
The JanusRNA-project is on the cover of the lung cancer association's member magazine "Pust" with the article "Biomarkers can reveal early stages of lung cancer". The JanusRNA project uses material from the Janus Serum Bank. Read the entire article here.
Biomarkers can reveal ovarian cancer
The JanusRNA project which uses material from Janus Serum Bank is mentioned in the gyn cancer association's member magazine "Afrodite". Read the full article on how biomarkers can reveal ovarian cancer here.
New research projects
Published: 2024-02-29
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals that are classified as possibly carcinogenic. Some studies have reported an increased incidence of urological cancer when exposed to PFAS, but there is still a lack of documentation at the population level. In this project, we will study the connection between kidney and testicular cancer and exposure to PFAS. These forms of cancer have increased in incidence after PFAS were introduced in Norway. Historical samples from the Janus Serum Bank will be used to measure PFAS levels from more than 1,000 patients and an equally large control group. The connection between occupation and place of residence and possible molecular changes due to PFAS exposure will be investigated. Using mathematical modelling, PFAS levels in individuals will be investigated over time. The aim is to assess the risk posed by PFAS exposure, find possible exposure biomarkers and reference values with a view to prevention.
The project is financed by the Norwegian Cancer Society and has been approved by the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REK no. 695237 REK south-east A) and the principal investigator is senior researcher Marcin Wojewodzic at the Cancer Registry of Norway.
Published: 2023-03-13
Ovarian cancer is a disease with relatively poor survival - five years after the patient has been diagnosed, just slightly more than half of the women are still alive. Cancer in the surface layer of the ovaries is often detected late because the symptoms are diffuse and uncharacteristic, and the disease is therefore difficult to diagnose. There is also no effective strategy for early detection of this form of cancer.
Micro-RNA (miRNA) are molecules in the body's cells that have important tasks in regulating which genes are switched on and off (gene regulation).
Previous studies have shown promising results for selected miRNAs as possible early biomarkers for ovarian cancer. In this project, a validation of the relevant miRNA panel for the early detection of ovarian cancer will be carried out. The material to be included are serum samples from women who submitted a sample to the Janus serum bank prior to the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. These samples must then be compared with corresponding samples from women who have not developed cancer. The project is a European collaboration where biological material from several other cohorts will be included.
The study has been approved by the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REK), no. 551921 REK south-east A, and the project manager is senior researcher Renée Turzanski Fortner at the Norwegian Cancer Registry.
Highlighted papers about Janus Serum Bank
Cohort Profile: The Janus Serum Bank Cohort in Norway
Langseth H, Gislefoss RE, Martinsen JI, Dillner J, Ursin G.
Int J Epidemiol. 2016. Epub. Apr 10.
DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyw027
Cohort Profile Update: The Janus Serum Bank Cohort in Norway
Hjerkind KV, Gislefoss RE, Tretli S, Nystad W, Bjørge T, Engeland A, Meyer HE, Holvik K, Ursin G, Langseth H.
Int J Epidemiol. 2017 Aug 1;46(4):1101-1102f.
DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyw302
Janus serumbank - Jakten på biomarkører
Langseth H, Kymre K, Slyngstad T, Rounge TB, Gislefoss RE, Lauritzen M.
Norsk Epidemiologi. 2022. 30 (1-2).
Collaboration partners
The Cancer Registry of Norway and Janus Serum Bank are active collaboration partners in Biobank Norge 3 and 4. This is a consortium with ten partners, created to create a national biobank infrastructure for health research.
Visit Biobank Norway's homepage here.
Responsible
Institution responsible for research:
Cancer Registry of Norway
Contact person for institution responsible for research:
Giske Ursin, MD, PhD, director
Responsible for the biobank:
Hilde Langseth, PhD, head
Secretariat
Hilde Langseth, head, senior researcher, PhD
Marianne Lauritzen, advisor, MSc
Tove Slyngstad, advisor, BSc
Katarina Baumgarten Skogstrøm, advisor, MSc
Marie Udnesseter Lie, data manager, PhD
Contact information
E-mail: janus@kreftregisteret.no
Telephone: +47 224 51 300
Information
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