How is Young Adult Cancer Unique?

The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Program is one of just six AYA programs in the nation funded by the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF). With the LAF, we aim to create standard information on tumor and blood samples from adolescents and young adults with cancer.

Developing this standard information, called the AYA biorepository: A facility that collects, catalogs, and stores samples of biological material, such as urine, blood, tissue, cells, DNA, RNA, and protein, from humans, animals, or plants for laboratory research. If the samples are from people, medical information may also be stored along with a written consent to use the samples in laboratory studies.>will allow OHSU Knight Cancer Institute researchers to study adolescent and young adult cancers and work with other health centers These studies may include projects  through LIVESTRONG Young Adult Alliance. This work will give scientists and doctors more knowledge about tumors and biology unique to young adults.