What is SPECTA?

SPECTA is a collaborative European platform to reach patients outside of clinical trials and establish a quality-assured process for collecting clinically and pathologically annotated biological material from cancer patients. The goal of such a platform is to support bio specimen-based translational research, biomarker discovery and ultimately to propose new therapeutic options to patients with cancer.

The platform provides an integrated and shared mechanism, with rapid access to patient data and biological samples to enable the quick implementation of new clinical trials and robust translational research.

What is SPECTA?

SPECTA is a collaborative European platform to reach patients outside of clinical trials and establish a quality-assured process for collecting clinically and pathologically annotated biological material from cancer patients. The goal of such a platform is to support bio specimen-based translational research, biomarker discovery and ultimately to propose new therapeutic options to patients with cancer.

The platform provides an integrated and shared mechanism, with rapid access to patient data and biological samples to enable the quick implementation of new clinical trials and robust translational research.

How does SPECTA work?

1. NE T W ORK of c linicians - f ocus on p atients 2. On e c entr alised BIOBANK 3. One clinical DATABASE(EORTC) 5. One operational SET-UP 4. Relevant research laboratories(COLLABORATE)
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1. NETWORK

More than 200 investigators throughout Europe joined the…

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2. BIOBANK

The collection of Human Biological Material is project-dependent…

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3. DATABASE

Clinical data are collected at study entry as well as follow-up…

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4. COLLABORATION

SPECTA laboratories include accredited laboratories that can…

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5. SET-UP

The platform operational set-up allows one activation process…

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Why SPECTA?

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SPECTA provides:

  • an integrated clinical research infrastructure on an international scale, engaging top-tier university hospitals within the EORTC network;
  • facilitated operations through a single entry point to access multiple studies, high quality annotated material access for research purposes and longitudinal follow up of patients to understand progression patterns;
  • standardised processes for biobanking and human biological material testing, as well as clinical data collection (including imaging data if needed), in partnership with expert laboratories;
  • SPECTA has developed discussion and advice by established molecular tumour boards to help clinician take informed clinical decisions based on the genomic profile of their patients.

Why SPECTA?

JOIN US
SPECTA provides:

  • an integrated clinical research infrastructure on an international scale, engaging top-tier university hospitals within the EORTC network;
  • facilitated operations through a single entry point to access multiple studies, high quality annotated material access for research purposes and longitudinal follow up of patients to understand progression patterns;
  • standardised processes for biobanking and human biological material testing, as well as clinical data collection (including imaging data if needed), in partnership with expert laboratories;
  • SPECTA has developed discussion and advice by established molecular tumour boards to help clinician take informed clinical decisions based on the genomic profile of their patients.
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Platform Status

SPECTA is authorising new investigators on an ongoing basis. We are proud of our SPECTA network, active all over Europe.

Since the initiation of the SPECTA platform and its first downstream projects mid-2019, approximately 600 cancer patients annually have been confirmed as eligible for participation.

SPECTA in numbers (January 2026):

  • 179 investigators authorized to recruit
  • 20 countries represented
  • Around 4700 patients registered
  • 3690 patients eligible for a downstream project
  • More than 2225 molecular reports generated
  • 2 cohort opened to recruitment
  • 23 cohorts under analysis after reaching targeted recruitment
  • 5 downstream projects: 2 projects recruiting, 2 in analysis, 1 analysed, 1 in activation
  • A team of 25 people at EORTC headquarter dedicated and involved either in the platform or its downstream projects.

Find out more about the current open sites:

euopean-map-SPECTA-website-April-2024

Sponsorship

The SPECTA platform is supported by Alliance Healthcare.

Alliance Healthcare will become Cencora.

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