Core A: Biospecimen and Pathology

BIOSPECIMEN AND PATHOLOGY CORE: PROJECT SUMMARY The Biospecimen and Pathology Core (BPC) provides the scientific expertise and organizing infrastructure to collect, process, store, distribute, and analyze biospecimens from consented patients in clinical trials and on biospecimen collection protocols within the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) SPORE in Breast Cancer, to provide consultative services, technical expertise, and validation of innovative technologies in the planning and execution of translational research, and to provide a comprehensive solution to specimen management and data integration across the SPORE via a centralized biorepository and data warehouse. Biospecimen collection occurs at the four major sites of clinical care (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center), and for multicenter studies, at external sites. For clinical trials and biospecimen collection protocols, the BPC is responsible for specimen tracking from the point of collection all the way through distribution to approved investigators. The BPC coordinates closely with the DF/HCC Breast Clinical Data and Biospecimens Users Committee to provide scientific and logistical expertise to investigators wishing to apply for use of biospecimens and to review incoming concepts for scientific rigor and feasibility. The BPC coordinates with the DF/HCC clinical trials and cohort studies leadership as well as individual trial PIs to ensure the success of translational research. The BPC performs a variety of services, including basic histology services, micro- and macro-dissection, immunohistochemistry assay development and scoring, fluorescence in-situ hybridization, DNA/RNA extraction, library preparation, tissue microarray construction, digital slide scanning, flow cytometry, and extraction of circulating free DNA from plasma and cerebrospinal fluids. The BPC also collaborates with investigators to create and house organoid and PDX models. The Immuno-Oncology Sub Core of the BPC provides additional expertise on immune monitoring of peripheral blood, as well as multiplex methods for biomarker assessment and spatial profiling. Clinical data, specimen tracking, and biomarker data are housed centrally in the Breast Oncology Data Warehouse, which is designed to enhance data integration and collaborations. The BPC comprises a dedicated team of pathologists, information scientists, investigators, project managers, laboratory technicians, clinical research coordinators, research data specialists, data abstractors, and regulatory coordinators. The large scale of BPC efforts is reflected in the greater than 35,000 patients consented to at least one biobanking study for which the BPC provides pathology services.