Variables in the databases
Variables in the Belgian Virtual Tumourbank
> Source variables
> Patient variables
> Technical variables
> Oncological variables
> Variable added by the BCR
The dataflow assumes the presence of 3 different databases.
The first database is the local database of every single local biobank. From this database an extraction, containing a standard set of variables, is made and sent to the central database.
The BVT registration (BVTr) database is the database used by the BCR to centralise the data, publish data in the BVT catalogue (BVTc) database, perform quality controls and add cTNM values.
The BVT catalogue (BVTc) database is extracted from the central database, after removal of all the identifying variables (i.e. SSIN number, biopsy number and birth date).
The variables present in the different databases are shown in the following table. A distinction is made between 5 types of variables: source variables, patient variables, technical variables, oncological variables and BCR variables.
The most recent table with aggregated data of primary malignant tumour tissue samples registered in the BVT catalogue, can be downloaded on the page Aggregated data.
Variables in the Belgian Virtual Tumourbank
Variables present in the three databases of the Belgian Virtual Tumourbank
| Local database | BVTr database | BVTc database |
Source | | Laboratory | Laboratory |
| | Creation date | |
| | Update date | |
| | Reference ID | Reference ID |
Patient | SSIN | SSIN | |
| Gender | Gender | Gender |
| Birth date | Birth date | |
| | Age | Age |
| Patient opposition | Patient opposition | |
Technical | Sample ID | Sample ID | Sample ID |
| Biopsy number | Biopsy number | |
| Sample date | Sample date | Sample year |
| Conservation mode | Conservation mode | Conservation mode |
| Conservation delay | Conservation delay | Conservation delay |
| Vital state of the patient (at time of resection) | Vital state of the patient (at time of resection) | Vital state of the patient (at time of resection) |
| Available materials | Available materials | Available materials |
| Technical remarks | Technical remarks | |
Oncological | Sample Type | Sample Type | Sample Type |
| Sample localisation | Sample localisation | Sample localisation |
| Localisation primary tumour in case of metastasis | Localisation primary tumour in case of metastasis | Localisation primary tumour in case of metastasis |
| Laterality | Laterality | Laterality |
| Morphology | Morphology | Morphology |
| Degree of differentiation | Degree of differentiation | Degree of differentiation |
| pTNM | pTNM | pTNM |
| pTNM prefix | pTNM prefix | pTNM prefix |
| Oncological remarks | Oncological remarks | |
| Other | | |
| | | cTNM |
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Source variables
Source variables give information on the source of the samples:
Laboratory: Indicates the laboratory (local biobank) where the samples are stored.
Creation date: Indicates when the data regarding the samples were registered in the BVTr database.
Update date: Indicates when the data regarding the samples was last updated.
Reference ID: Internal unique identification number, used by the BCR internally and for communication with researchers.
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Patient variables
SSIN: The social security identification number is a unique patient identification number. The use of this number is necessary to assure the unique identity of the registered samples and to link the data to other databases. Linkage to the cancer database of the BCR is necessary to perform quality controls on the registered data and to add the cTNM value. Furthermore, use of the SSIN allows linkage with other databases for retrieval of specific variables (e.g. survival treatment...) within specific scientific studies. For the latter purpose, an additional authorisation of the Commission for the Protection of Privacy is necessary. Given the identifying character of this number, this variable is not present in the BVT catalogue database.
Gender
Birth date: Given the identifying character of the birth date, this variable is not present in the BVT catalogue database. From the sample date and the birth date the age of the patient at sample collection is calculated and made available to researchers in the BVT catalogue module.
Patient opposition: Indicates whether the patient opposed to the conservation and use of the residual material. When the patient opposes after registration of the sample, the data will be removed from all databases.
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Technical variables
Sample ID: Unique identification number of a tumour sample in the local tumourbank. Used to assure the traceability of the sample.
Biopsy number: This number corresponds to the pathology report of the tumour sample. The number is necessary to perform quality controls on the registered variables. This number is not present in the BVT catalogue database.
Sample date: Indicates the date of sample prelevation.
Conservation mode: Indicates the temperature and conditions under which samples are stored in the local biobank (e.g. frozen at -80°C, paraffin embedded, ...)
Conservation delay: Indicates the time elapsed between the moment of prelevation and conservation of the sample.
Vital state of the patient (at time of resection): Indicates whether a sample originates from an autopsy or not.
Available materials: indicates the types of residual materials, other than the tumour tissue, that have been collected and stored within a short period after or before the tumour prelevation (e.g. other tissue samples, cytological samples, DNA, ...)
Technical remarks
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Oncological variables
Sample type: Indicates whether the sample concerns a primary tumour, a metastasis, normal tissue or another sample type.
Sample localisation: Corresponds to the anatomical localisation of the sample according to the ICD-O classification.
Sample localisation primary tumour in case of metastasis: If the sample type indicated is a metastasis, the localisation of the primary tumour can be indicated, if available.
Laterality: For paired organs, tumours can be located on the right or on the left side of the patient's body.
Morphology: Indicates the tumour cell type (according to the ICD-O classification) and the behaviour of the tumour.
Degree of differentiation: Corresponds to the degree of aggressiveness of the tumour.
pTNM and pTNM prefix: Staging parameters indicating the extent of the tumour after resection.
Oncological remarks
Other: Variables that are being stored by a local biobank and are not part of the standardised dataset of the Belgian Virtual Tumourbank. These variables are not registered.
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Variable added by the BCR
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