Mechanisms and Markers of Prostate Cancer Metastases

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The Biospecimen Core provides part of the infrastructure support for Projects 1 - 5. This Core will provide a well-organized and standardized system of specimen collection, storage, distribution and related clinical/research information dissemination that is based on over two decades of experience. A critical aspect is our Rapid Autopsy Program. There will be consistency and quality assurance in the pathological analysis of tissue specimens. The Biospecimen Core is also involved in the maintenance of a large series of prostate cancer xenograft lines developed by Core investigators. These xenografts are used for a number of studies by the PPG investigators and each study is overseen by Core personnel. Overall, the operations of this Core group into 5 components: 1. Specimen acquisition, processing, quality control, storage and accessioning into databases; 2. A development program to continually improve the quality and efficiency with which we obtain tissue samples and derivative products; 3. A prostate cancer xenograft maintenance, development and study program. 4. Laboratory services, including interpretation of tissues and tissue localization studies by a urologic pathologist, immunohistochemistry, quantitative RT-PCR, and immunoassays, i.e. PSA, and tissue culture. The Core will also perform pre-clinical studies using our xenograft resources; 5. An administrative program to obtain samples from minority patients, prioritize the distribution of specimens, conduct a quality control program, and to ensure patient confidentiality and compliance with IRB requirements. Furthermore, the Core provides biostatistical support to the project investigators as well as for Core related tasks. The performance of each of the research projects detailed in this program project mandates that investigators have ready access to well documented clinical specimens and relevant biological models. The investigators directing the Biospecimen Core also make it a policy to provide excess prostate cancer specimen resources to non-PPG investigators on a world-wide basis. Overall, the Biospecimen Core is a critical component of this program project.