Human Tumor Bank and Database
Recent advances in molecular biology, including genomics and proteomics technologies, provide a tremendous opportunity to understand cancer at the molecular level. In order to fully utilize this technology, the use of human tissue for research is an invaluable tool to understand the basic mechanisms of tumor biology, which will hopefully lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches to pancreatic cancer treatment.
The cornerstone of any large translational research program is the development of an accurate and comprehensive tumor bank. All tumors removed in the operating room are sampled for careful pathologic study and the remainder of the tumor is promptly stored in our Pancreas Tissue Bank (PTB) to be used for research. Other samples, including blood, pancreatic juice and biopsy material, can also be utilized to identify early markers for pancreatic cancer. The molecular profile of tumors in the PTB can be linked to information in our clinical database to provide insight on the relationship between molecular events and clinical outcome.
Patients may contribute to the tissue banking effort by choosing to participate in select research protocols. For more information, please contact Tracy Chang at 713-792-6940.
Protecting patient privacy is of great importance and thus, to maintain the confidentiality of health information, the PTB complies with all federal and institutional regulations governing research with human participants.
Selected References
Bold RJ, Hess KR, Pearson AS, Grau AM, Sinicrope FA, Jennings M, McConkey DJ, Bucana CD, Cleary KR, Hallin PA, Chiao PJ, Abbruzzese JL, Evans DB. Prognostic factors in respectable pancreatic cancer: p53 and bcl-2. J Gastrointest Surg 1999; 3:263-277.
Hwang RF, Yokoi K, Bucana CD, Tsan R, Killion JJ, Evans DB, Fidler IJ. Inhibition of platelet-derived growth factor receptor phosphorylation by STI571 (Gleevec) reduces growth and metastasis of human pancreatic carcinoma in an orthotopic nude mouse model. Clin Cancer Research 2003; 9:6534-6544.
Li D, Zhu J, Firozi PF, Abbruzzese JL, Evans DB, Cleary K, Friess H, Sen S. Overexpression of oncogenic STK15/BTAK/Aurora A kinase in human pancreatic cancer. Clin Cancer Research 2003; 9:991-997.
Parikh AA, Liu WB, Fan F, Stoeltzing O, Reinmuth N, Bruns CJ, Bucana CD, Evans DB, Ellis LM. Expression and regulation of the novel vascular endothelial growth factor receptor neuropilin-1 by epidermal growth factor in human pancreatic carcinoma. Cancer 2003; 98:720-729.
Sclabas GM, Fujioka S, Schmidt C, Evans DB, Chiao PJ. NF-kappaB in pancreatic cancer. Int J Gastrointest Cancer 2003; 33:15-26. Review.
Hwang RF, Wang H, Lara A, Gomez H, Chang T, Sieffert N, Moon Y, Ram S, Zimmerman S, Lee JH, Pisters PWT, Tamm EP, Fleming JB, Abbruzzese JL, Evans DB. Development of an integrated biospecimen bank and multidisciplinary clinical database for pancreatic cancer. Ann Surg Onc. 2008; 15:1356-1366.