What is the Resource?
The Resource provides access to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded primary prostate cancer tissue with associated clinical and follow-up data for research studies, particularly studies focused on translating basic research findings into clinical application. Fresh-frozen tissue is also available with limited clinical follow up information since these are more recent cases. The Resource database contains pathologic and clinical information linked to a large collection of prostate tissue specimens that is available for research. Researchers can determine whether the Resource has the tissues and patient data they need for their individual research studies through an inquiry to ASK-CPCTR-L@LIST.NIH.GOV
The organizations contributing to the Resource have access to tissue and data from local patients in four geographically diverse areas of the United States. Participants include:
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George Washington University, Washington, D.C. |
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University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL |
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New York University, New York, NY |
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University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA |
The central database is maintained at Information Management Services in Rockville, MD.
Tissue sections will be prepared to meet the requirements of approved research protocols. The Resource will also provide clinical, pathological and outcome data, including demographic data, diagnosis, detailed pathology review, extent of disease, treatment, follow-up, recurrence, survival, and vital status. The Resource cannot provide information that would identify any patient or family member. There is a charge for the preparation of sections and for shipping costs. Studies on Resource material may be funded by Federal or non-Federal sources. The Resource does not provide funding for research studies using Resource materials.
Specimens and data are available for research studies judged to be meritorious by the Research Evaluation Panel (REP), an independent scientific review group. The Resource collection is particularly well-suited for evaluation of diagnostic and prognostic markers since it includes primary prostate cancer tissue with associated clinical and outcome data. This valuable finite collection is intended to support studies that require archival tissue and clinical and outcome data. The Resource can provide documentation of the availability of required specimens in support of applications for research funding. The Resource is available both to academic researchers and to commercial organizations who need access to specimens for evaluation of diagnostic, prognostic or other assays related to prostate cancer.
How do I apply for tissue and data?
Investigators should first send a short letter of intent stating the aims/hypothesis of the proposed research. This should include a brief description of the technical approach and assurance that the technique(s) can be applied to paraffin-embedded specimens or fresh-frozen tissues. The approximate number and types of cases required for the study should be indicated, along with justification for sample size. The letter can also be submitted electronically. The request will be reviewed on receipt, and if the CPCTR determines that the Resource can meet your needs, you will be asked to submit a more detailed proposal. There are no specific receipt dates, and every attempt will be made to evaluate requests expeditiously.
Are
Tissue Microarrays available?
The National Cancer Institute funds the Cooperative Prostate Cancer Tissue Resource (CPCTR) to provide prostate cancer tissue samples to researchers.
The CPCTR is now pleased to announce the availability of slides from prostate cancer TMAs with associated clinical data.
All researchers may apply for TMA slides (academic or commercial, US or foreign).
The TMA slide set contains
· Cancer tissue from radical prostatectomy specimens of 299 patients
· Control non-neoplastic tissue from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
· Control non-diseased tissue from organ donor prostates
· Cores from two prostate cancer cell lines: LNCaP and PC-3
The information provided for each case on the array includes over 20 data elements including: age at diagnosis, race, PSA at diagnosis, tumor size, TNM stage, Gleason score and grade, and vital status.
The CPCTR TMA data file conforms to the new TMA data exchange specification (see: The tissue microarray data exchange specification: A community-based, open source tool for sharing tissue microarray data. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2003;3(1):5).
TMA core array maps and XML Templates are available for download here.
Further information, including costs, can be found
here.
An application form for TMAs is available.
Please e-mail us at ASK-CPCTR-L@LIST.NIH.GOV if you have any questions
about our TMAs or our large repository of paraffin-embedded and fresh-frozen
prostate cancer tissue samples.
Are
there charges for Resource services?
COST FOR SPECIMENS
Once your application has been approved by the CPCTR, your requested tissue will be prepared and shipped. Specimens will not be shipped until processing fees and shipping charges are paid. Current charges for these services are:
Note: Quoted prices are for academic institutions, charges for industry are tripled. All specimens come with annotation, unless otherwise specified.
Cost for Tissue Specimens
- Cases: $40 per case, which includes 4 standard 5-micron or 2, 10-micron slides, one section per slide (specify if they should be silanated). Extra 5-micron, slides cost $3.00 each. Extra 10-micron slides cost $5.00 each. Please specify the type of lesion required, i.e., cancer, HGPIN, or benign tissue, and the Gleason score(s) if pertinent.
- $50 for RNA or DNA analysis specimen (requires a clean microtome blade for each block), which includes 4 standard 5-micron or 2, 10-micron slides, one section per slide. Extra 5-micron slides cost $4.00 each. Extra 10-micron slides cost $6.00 each. Please specify the type of lesion required, i.e., cancer, HGPIN, or benign tissue, and the Gleason score(s) if pertinent.
- $3.00 for standard 5-micron slide
- $4.00 for 3-4-micron slides
- $5.00 for 10-micron slides
- $10.00 for 11-<25-micron thick section on slide
- $20.00 for 25-micron or thicker section, placed in tube for PCR analysis
- $4.00 for slide with Hematoxylin & Eosin-stained section
- $100 for frozen tissue specimen, not to exceed 0.2 grams
- $100 per case for frozen sections (set includes 5 frozen sections plus one stained frozen section)
Cost for Tissue Microarray (TMA) Slides
$600 for a set of four slides, with annotation $100 for each additional TMA slide, with annotation 3 free optimization TMA slides for testing probe (without annotation)
Cost for Blood, Fluid and Cell Specimens
$20 for 0.5 ml of serum (snap frozen) $20 for 0.5 ml of plasma (snap frozen) $20 for 0.5 ml of uncentrifuged urine (snap frozen) $40 for 0.5 ml of buffy coat (uncounted, snap frozen)
If other types of specimens are needed, please describe and the Coordinating Committee will decide upon their availability and the cost per specimen.
Will the Resource provide other services?
When services are requested such as laser capture microdissection, or clinical information beyond that normally provided, collaborations may be established between researchers and Resource investigators.
Where can I get additional information?
Please send Email to:
Or Contact:
Jan Orenstein, M.D., Ph.D.
George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
telephone: (202) 994-2943
e-mail: jorenstein@mfa.gwu.edu
Andre Kajdacsy-Balla, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
telephone: (312) 996-3879
e-mail: aballa@uic.edu
Jonathan Melamed, M.D.
New York University, New York, NY
telephone: (212) 263-8927
e-mail: jonathan.melamed@med.nyu.edu
Michael J. Becich, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
telephone:(412) 623-3940
e-mail: becich@pitt.edu