Provision of Material to Investigators

Research Tissue Repository

Updated April 2008

After the Scientific Review Committee (SRC) approves an application requesting Tissue Repository specimens, the Data Management Specialist selects cases that meet the requirements as specified in the application. When the list is ready, cases are retrieved and specimen preparation will begin. If there is insufficient tissue to prepare the requested number of sections, the case may be re-categorized and another eligible case selected by the Data Management Specialist to take its place.

The clinical data is confirmed and updated at this stage. The review will, at a minimum, update the vital status and cancer recurrence status of the case and check for logical inconsistencies or obvious errors in the initial submitted material. The requestor may also need further information than was available in the original data.

Whole tissue paraffin blocks are not distributed due to the risk of loss of valuable resources and the possibility of unauthorized use of the material. The tissue blocks however, may be sectioned according to the requirements of the investigators (thick or thin sections; on slides or in vials).

The Pathologist reviews the selected slides to make sure they conform to the requested material. The block is then matched to the slide, to determine whether it has adequate tissue. If multiple sections are taken from the same block, an extra slide can be H&E stained and reviewed for the presence of requested material.

Preservation of subject confidentiality mandates that material sent to investigators be stripped of original identifying numbers (surgical pathology numbers). Instead, the Honest Broker-assigned number for the case should be used on all sections or vials that are provided to investigators.