Core B: MPN-RC Tissue Bank

Core B Abstract Core Lead: Bridget Marcellino, MD, PhD Core B, Tissue Bank provides the infrastructure to transport, receive, process, store, and distribute tissue specimens obtained from patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) enrolled on the longitudinal tissue bank as well as patients enrolled on clinical trials (Project 4). These specimens are provided to MPN-RC investigators performing translational research for the purpose of developing innovative therapies (Projects 1-3). They are also provided to the Biomarker and Bioinformatics Core D to perform biomarker analyses to evaluate the effectiveness or causes of resistance of specific therapies being evaluated to deplete MPN hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Tissues are also available to members of the scientific community at large for translational research. Translational research is dependent on the ready availability of tissues from a sufficient number of accurately diagnosed patients to generate statistically significant data. Because the MPNs are relatively uncommon and their accurate diagnosis can be difficult, there has been a paucity of tissue, linked to clinical data, available to individual investigators at single institutions. Core B fills this void. With an inventory of specimens from more than 1700 individual patients with MPNs, Core B maintains one of the world’s largest inventories of MPN tissues available for research. In addition, Core B collects specimens from patients participating in MPN-RC sponsored clinical trials (Project 4) for the purpose of performing biomarker studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of specific therapies on the depletion of MPN hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. The specific aims of Tissue Bank Core B are the following: (1) Receive, process, cryopreserve, and store tissues from MPN patients participating in a longitudinal tissue bank (MPN-RC 106) as well as patients enrolled on clinical trials (Project 4) at MPN-RC clinical sites. (2) Provide a central repository for MPN tissues that are associated with clinical and mutational annotation data stored in the web-based data bank maintained by Biostatistics and Data Management Core C. This annotation, selection and distribution of tissues is tailored for each translational research project. (3) a. Distribute tissues to MPN-RC investigators and the larger scientific community for translational research dedicated to elucidating the mechanisms driving the pathogenesis and progression of MPNs and developing novel therapeutic strategies to target MF stem cells. b. Distribute clinical trial specimens to analyze on-target effects of novel agents and create biomarkers which will determine therapeutic and pharmacodynamic responses to therapy (Core D). Core B is an essential shared resource that enables translational research that will ultimately lead to the development of therapies, which target the MPN stem cell.