Ethically Sourced Cancer Biospecimens for
Translational Oncology Research
High-quality cancer biospecimens with comprehensive clinical annotation supporting biomarker discovery, drug development, and precision medicine research
For over 25 years, MT Group has been a trusted partner to leading pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, and academic research institutions advancing oncology research. Our comprehensive network of IRB-approved collection sites procures ethically sourced cancer tissue and other oncology biospecimens with the clinical annotation context, quality standards, and scientific rigor that translational research demands.
Whether you’re validating biomarkers for precision medicine, investigating mechanisms of therapeutic resistance, developing companion diagnostics, or exploring tumor heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment, MT Group delivers cancer biospecimens that enable robust, reproducible research outcomes. Every specimen is backed by comprehensive clinical data, pathologist verification, and complete chain-of-custody documentation.
Ethically Sourced Cancer Biospecimens for
Translational Oncology Research
High-quality cancer biospecimens with comprehensive clinical annotation supporting biomarker discovery, drug development, and precision medicine research
For over 25 years, MT Group has been a trusted partner to leading pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, and academic research institutions advancing oncology research. Our comprehensive network of IRB-approved collection sites procures ethically sourced cancer tissue and other oncology biospecimens with the clinical annotation context, quality standards, and scientific rigor that translational research demands.
Whether you’re validating biomarkers for precision medicine, investigating mechanisms of therapeutic resistance, developing companion diagnostics, or exploring tumor heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment, MT Group delivers cancer biospecimens that enable robust, reproducible research outcomes. Every specimen is backed by comprehensive clinical data, pathologist verification, and complete chain-of-custody documentation.
Cancer Biospecimen Types
MT Group provides comprehensive oncology biospecimen procurement across cancer types and specimen formats. Our network supports both prospective custom collections designed to meet specific study requirements and retrospective sourcing.
Fresh Cancer Tissue
Fresh tumor tissue is procured from surgical resections, processed rapidly to preserve viability and molecular integrity. These specimens are ideal for downstream applications requiring live cells including organoid development, primary cell culture, functional assays, and single-cell analyses. Fresh tissue collections follow strict collection protocols with documented collection-to-processing times, ensuring maximum viability and RNA quality for time-sensitive experiments.
Frozen Cancer Tissue
Tumor samples collected from surgical specimens can also be frozen to preserve nucleic acid and protein integrity. Our sites follow standardized protocols for tissue sectioning, snap-freezing in liquid nitrogen or on dry ice, and storage at -80°C. Frozen tissues are optimal for genomic profiling (DNA/RNA sequencing, mutation analysis), proteomic studies, and metabolomic investigations. Every frozen specimen includes documented cold ischemia time and processing parameters.
FFPE Tumor Blocks & Sections
Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor blocks represent the gold standard for histopathological analysis and are widely used in translational oncology research. Our FFPE specimens undergo standardized fixation protocols to ensure optimal tissue preservation. Each FFPE block is accompanied by pathology reports documenting diagnosis, tumor grade, and stage.
Matched Tumor-Normal Tissue Pairs
Matched tumor and adjacent normal tissue from the same patient are essential for detecting somatic mutations, copy number variations, and tumor-specific molecular signatures. We provide matched pairs in fresh, frozen or FFPE format, with pathologist verification confirming tumor content in the malignant tissue and absence of tumor infiltration in the normal tissue. Matched blood or plasma / buffy coat samples from the same donor can also be provided for germline analysis and comprehensive molecular profiling.
Blood-Derived Oncology Samples
Blood specimens from cancer patients support liquid biopsy applications, immune profiling, and circulating biomarker studies. We collect whole blood, plasma, serum, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from cancer patients at various disease stages. Plasma samples enable circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis, circulating tumor cell (CTC) enrichment, and exosome isolation. PBMC or buffy coat collections support immune monitoring, T-cell receptor sequencing, and immunophenotyping studies essential for immuno-oncology research.
Longitudinal & Treatment Response Samples
Longitudinal specimen collections from cancer patients undergoing treatment provide invaluable insights into therapeutic response, resistance mechanisms, and disease evolution. We prospectively collect samples at multiple timepoints—pre-treatment baseline, on-treatment, post-treatment, and at progression—along with comprehensive clinical outcomes data including radiographic response assessment, progression-free survival, and overall survival. These longitudinal collections are essential for biomarker validation, minimal residual disease monitoring, and understanding mechanisms of acquired resistance.
Research Applications
MT Group's cancer biospecimens support diverse oncology research applications across drug discovery, biomarker development, and translational medicine:
Biomarker Discovery & Validation
Our matched tissue and blood samples enable identification of novel cancer biomarkers and validation of existing signatures across patient populations. Access to longitudinal samples supports biomarker change tracking through disease progression and treatment.
Immuno-Oncology Research
Fresh and frozen tumor samples with matched blood support checkpoint inhibitor studies and characterization of immune response profiles. Specimens from pre- and post-treatment timepoints help researchers understand immunotherapy mechanisms and resistance.
Drug Mechanism, Efficacy & Resistance Research
Well-annotated specimens with detailed treatment histories allow researchers to investigate how therapies interact with tumor biology at the molecular level. Biospecimens collected at multiple timepoints support analysis of therapeutic response and emergence of resistance, with paired samples from responders and non-responders providing critical comparative data.
Minimal Residual Disease Detection
Serial blood draws support development and validation of sensitive MRD assays. Longitudinal collections enable correlation of MRD status with clinical outcomes.
Why Leading Oncology Researchers Choose MT Group
For over 25 years, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, and academic cancer centers have trusted MT Group to provide the high-quality cancer biospecimens and scientific expertise that drive oncology research forward.
Extensive Procurement Network & Rare Cancer Expertise: Our IRB-approved collection sites span academic medical centers, community oncology practices, and specialty cancer centers across the US and internationally, enabling access to virtually any cancer type—from common malignancies like breast and lung to rare cancers like cholangiocarcinoma and uveal melanoma—with highly specific treatment histories and ethnicities that would be extremely difficult to source independently.
High-Integrity Specimens with Comprehensive Clinical Context: Every specimen includes rich metadata covering diagnosis, staging, treatment history, response assessments, molecular biomarker data (if available), and survival outcomes.
Deep Scientific Expertise in Oncology Study Design: Our team brings specialized domain expertise in oncology biospecimen procurement, particularly for immuno-oncology and biomarker development programs. We help customers define optimal inclusion criteria, identify appropriate control cohorts, determine necessary sample sizes, and structure longitudinal collection protocols to ensure maximum scientific value.
Reliable Turnaround & Responsive Project Management: Our project management team maintains close communication throughout every collection with regular study updates, detailed specimen notifications, and proactive problem-solving. We work to provide realistic timelines with transparent enrollment progress updates for collections to keep research timelines on track.
Quality Assurance & Services
MT Group maintains rigorous quality standards throughout the entire specimen lifecycle—from donor screening and informed consent through collection, processing, storage, and final delivery. Our quality management system ensures consistency, traceability, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Donor & Patient Screening
All cancer tissue collections are conducted under IRB approval with proper informed consent, accompanied by comprehensive clinical and pathological data including cancer type, histological subtype, tumor grade, TNM stage, prior treatment history, survival outcomes, and when available, molecular marker data.
Processing & Handling
We work with collection sites that follow standardized protocols including controlled FFPE fixation times, rapid fresh/frozen processing with minimal ischemia time and snap-freezing at -80°C, comprehensive quality monitoring, and validated cryostorage in monitored -80°C freezers with custom aliquoting services available to minimize freeze-thaw cycles.
Quality Certifications & Compliance
All research protocols operate under active IRB review and approval with ongoing compliance monitoring, supported by complete chain-of-custody documentation from collection through delivery (including unique specimen identifiers, processing dates, storage locations, and shipment tracking), and pathologist verification of FFPE tumor blocks with H&E staining to confirm diagnosis, assess tumor content percentage, and document tissue quality.
Customization Options
MT Group works closely with your team to design custom specimen collections tailored to specific research objectives, including cohort selection by tumor stage, histological grade, molecular biomarker status, prior treatment exposure, or demographic; longitudinal specimens collected at multiple disease timepoints with complete clinical outcomes data; comprehensive multi-specimen sets including tumor tissue (FFPE and frozen), matched normal tissue, blood/plasma, and disease-state biofluids from the same patient; and global fulfillment with validated cold-chain logistics, temperature monitoring, and overnight delivery.
What Our Clients Say
Frequently Asked Questions
What cancer types do you provide samples for?
MT Group provides biospecimens across virtually all solid tumors, including breast, lung (NSCLC), colorectal, prostate, pancreatic, ovarian, renal, hepatocellular, gastric, esophageal, bladder, head and neck, melanoma, glioblastoma, and sarcomas. For rare cancer types, we conduct feasibility assessments to identify appropriate collection sites and determine procurement timelines.
What clinical data is included with each sample?
Every cancer biospecimen includes comprehensive clinical annotation with standard data elements: cancer type, histological subtype, tumor grade, TNM stage, prior treatment history (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, immunotherapy), treatment response assessments, survival outcomes, and demographics. When available, we provide molecular biomarker data including driver mutations (EGFR, KRAS, BRAF), receptor status (ER/PR/HER2), PD-L1 expression, and MSI/MMR status.
Can you provide matched tumor-normal pairs?
Yes. Matched tumor and adjacent normal tissue pairs are routinely available in fresh, frozen, and FFPE formats, with verification of malignant tissue in tumor specimens and absence of tumor infiltration in normal specimens. We can also provide matched blood or plasma samples from the same patient.
How are the tissues collected, preserved, and shipped?
Collection and processing protocols are optimized by specimen type to preserve molecular integrity. Fresh tissues are processed within ~1 hour to maintain viability; frozen tissues are snap-frozen within 30 minutes and stored at -80°C; FFPE tissues undergo standardized formalin fixation. All processing parameters are documented. Fresh samples ship overnight at 2-8°C, frozen specimens ship on dry ice, and FFPE specimens ship at ambient temperature.
What is your minimum order requirement for oncology samples?
Minimum order requirements vary by specimen type and cancer type, accommodating both small pilot studies and large-scale validation studies. Prospective collections typically start at 10 subjects. For rare cancer types or highly specific molecular cohorts, we work with customers to determine feasible sample sizes based on disease prevalence and site availability.
What is the typical lead time for oncology procurement?
Lead times vary by specimen availability and collection type. Retrospective specimens from existing biobanks are typically delivered within 2-4 weeks. Prospective collection enrollment timeframes depend on disease prevalence, enrollment complexity, and required sample size. We conduct thorough feasibility assessments to provide realistic timeline estimates and maintain transparent communication throughout enrollment.
Do you support rare cancer requests?
Yes, rare cancer collections are possible. We have successfully sourced specimens for cholangiocarcinoma, melanoma, small cell lung cancer, carcinoid tumors, adrenal cortical carcinoma, and many other uncommon malignancies. For rare cancers, we conduct comprehensive feasibility assessments surveying our site network to identify facilities with relevant patient populations and estimate realistic procurement timelines.
How is liquid biopsy used in cancer research?
Liquid biopsy refers to the analysis of tumor-derived material circulating in blood or other body fluids (most commonly circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and exosomes) as a non-invasive alternative or complement to solid tissue biopsy.
Key applications in cancer research:
- Early detection: Identifying tumor-associated genomic alterations before clinical symptoms
- Tumor profiling: Characterizing mutational landscape without surgical biopsy
- Treatment response monitoring: Tracking ctDNA dynamics to assess therapeutic efficacy
- Resistance mechanism identification: Detecting emergent resistance mutations in real time
- Minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment: Monitoring for post-treatment recurrence
Liquid biopsy is particularly valuable where serial tissue sampling is impractical, enabling longitudinal molecular monitoring across the disease course.
MT Group designs prospective liquid biopsy biospecimen collections with timed serial draws and matched clinical data, supporting the longitudinal study designs that liquid biopsy research demands.
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