R3: Contributing to medical progress through participation in tissue banking should be offered to the largest possible number of patients.

R4: Tissue banking should take into consideration the need for collecting appropriate reference samples. Whenever possible and appropriate, the reference sample may consist of corresponding tissue not affected by the disease process.

R5: Clinical practice should evolve to take into account the most effective way to exploit new molecular validated biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This requires technical innovation on evidence-based protocols for tissue procurement, preservation and processing. Innovation should also aim at better using archived collections.

R6: Given that specimens collected in clinical practice are critical for research, rules of patient information and consent should be compatible with the broad use of such specimens in conditions fulfilling strict criteria of protection of persons and data. The working group recommends that further work is developed to increase awareness on these issues and to develop ethical and legal procedures at the national and European level.