Biospecimen and Pathology Core

Project Summary – Biospecimen and Pathology Core B The primary objective of the Biospecimen and Pathology Core of the Wistar/UPenn SPORE in Skin Cancer is to provide a centralized facility focused on procurement, processing, analysis and distribution of malignant and normal tissue in support of translational cancer research, particularly melanoma research. The Core has been an effective resource for all SPORE projects in the prior funding period, which were heavily tissue-dependent, and will continue to provide essential support services for the proposed SPORE Projects moving forward. The Core will collect, store and process high-quality and well-annotated biospecimens (blood, fresh and paraffin embedded tissue) of tumor and normal tissue using SOPs modified in a Project specific manner (Aim 1). We will expand and maintain a functional multi-institutional integrated biospecimen and clinical database that includes pathological, treatment, recurrence, and follow-up data as well as comprehensive acquisition and distribution data associated with the use of tissue. The already existing database supports horizontal, vertical and inter- SPORE collaborations (Aim 2). We will select and distribute high quality biospecimens. We have developed procedures to select, prepare and distribute well-annotated tissues from benign, primary and metastatic tumors; DNA, RNA and proteins from biospecimens according to the specifications of each project. Distribution is governed by guidelines developed by the Tissue Resource Allocation Committee (TRAC) to ensure efficient and maximal use of tissue, and patient confidentiality (Aim 3). We will provide histological examination of all biospecimens used by each project, tissue processing and immunohistochemistry, and expert interpretation of studies performed on the tissue (Aim 4). Finally, we will develop innovative research assays and tissue preparation methods catering to the specific needs of each project and to facilitate clinically impactful research (Aim 5).