The mission of this axis is to favour structuring and scientific relationships that stimulate the development of multidisciplinary teams in cancer research based on infrastructures such as databases and tissue banking. The main focus of this axis is breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. The development of this infrastructure could serve as a springboard for a much larger spectrum of research initiatives.

By concentrating on the development of a provincial database for ovarian, breast and prostate tissue as well as all related data, the researchers within this axis have been able to come together and develop collaborative projects. Genomic, proteomic and mutation analysis platforms have been created and the expertise of the platform leaders benefits the entire group of researchers within the axis. Many projects involving new collaborators in this axis are now receiving competitive grants, some of which are based on major projects with members of the network.

Over the next few years, four main research themes will be at the heart of this axis, including:

• Study of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer diseases;
• The development of xenograft models derived from patients aimed at identifying new therapeutic approaches with a view to personalized medicine
• Identification of biomarkers leading to optimized management for cancer patients;
• The consolidation of immuno-oncology efforts for solid cancers.