Core B - Biospecimen & Pathology

Ut Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX

Investigators

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – BIOSPECIMEN AND PATHOLOGY CORE (CORE B) The aims of the Biospecimen and Pathology Core (Core B) are to 1) facilitate the storage and distribution of clinically annotated, high-quality biospecimens and their derivatives and 2) provide professional pathology services to the Liver Cancer SPORE investigators and collaborators. Core B will be under the leadership of Drs. Purva Gopal and Adam Yopp, who have a proven track record of collaboration in directing the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC) Tissue Management Shared Resource and have extensive collaborations with several of the SPORE investigators. The Biospecimen and Pathology Core leverages and augments the SCCC Tissue Management Core without duplication of services. The complexity of the tissue procurement process, critical nature of sample quality assurance, intensive oversight required for optimal tissue utilization and high-quality technical services as well as the necessary informatics to efficiently support these missions justifies the need for Core B. Core B is an integral aspect of the SPORE, with all three main projects, as well as projects from the Developmental Research Program (DRP) and Career Enhancement Program (CEP), leveraging its infrastructure and resources. The Liver Cancer Program biorepository currently has: >350 fresh frozen and >800 paraffin-embedded tissues from liver tumors; >300 fresh frozen and paraffin-embedded tissues from cirrhotic non-tumor livers; clinically annotated tissue microarray (TMA) with 150 liver tumor and paired normal liver tissues; >900 serum and plasma blood samples from patients with cirrhosis without liver cancer; >700 serum and blood samples from patients with liver cancer; and >60 patient derived xenografts and >70 organoids from liver cancers. As part of the SPORE, Core B will grow this central biorepository of cirrhosis and liver cancer tissue and blood samples as well as deliver histology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), in situ hybridization, tissue microarrays, whole slide imaging, image analysis, laser-capture microdissection services and unique cancer-tissue derivatives such as primary cancer cell cultures and cell lines, cryopreserved tissues, DNA, RNA, and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) or organoids. Core B also provides expertise in histomorphologic evaluation of liver cancers, human tumorgrafts in mice, and in the interpretation of IHC and in-situ hybridization assays. This comprehensive array of biospecimens and services makes Core B critical to the success of the Liver Cancer SPORE.