The German Uranium Miners’ Biobank—A Biobank for OMICs Radiation Research

Abstract

Systematic bio- and databanks are key prerequisites for modern radiation research to investigate radiation response mechanisms in the context of genetic, environmental and lifestyle-associated factors. This report presents the current status of the German Uranium Miners’ Biobank. In 2008, the bio- and databank was established at the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, and the sampling of biological materials from former uranium miners with and without lung cancer was initiated. For this purpose, various biological specimens, such as DNA and RNA, were isolated from blood samples as well as from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded lung tissue. High-quality biomaterials suitable for OMICs research and the associated data on occupational radiation and dust exposure, and medical and lifestyle data from over 1000 individuals have been stored so far. Various experimental data, e.g., genome-wide SNPs, whole genome transcriptomic and miRNA data, as well as individual chromosomal aberration data from subgroups of biobank samples, are already available upon request for in-depth research on radiation-induced long-term effects, individual radiation susceptibility to lung cancer and radon-induced fingerprints in lung cancer. This biobank is the first systematic uranium miners´ biobank worldwide that is suitable for OMICs research on radiation-exposed workers. It offers the opportunity to link radiation-induced perturbations of biological pathways or processes and putative adverse outcome(s) by OMICs profiling at different biological organization levels.

Effects of spatial variation in dose delivery: what can we learn from radon-related lung cancer studies?

“…Other types of studies exploring the molecular profile of lung cancer associated with radon exposure are the preclinical (in vitro and in vivo) and translational research in humans focused on radon and molecular epidemiology (Rosenberger et al 2018 ; Gomolka et al 2022 ). Indeed, the molecular mechanism of radon-induced carcinogenesis still remains unknown (Robertson et al 2013 ).…”

“…For this purpose, an animal model and two different cohorts of patients are studied. Radon-induced lung cancer in rats is retrospectively characterized pathologically and molecularly, likewise lung cancers in Wismut miners who were exposed to different radon concentrations are investigated molecularly (Rosenberger et al 2018 ; Gomolka et al 2022 ). A prospective study is also ongoing, since April 2022, with the aim to characterize the clinical, pathological, and molecular profiling of patients with lung cancer exposed to indoor radon in Europe (The Bioradon— EORTC 1920 LCC).…”