|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The main objective of the Pathology Core, supported by the National Cancer Institute-funded Cancer Center Support Grant, is to provide access to optimally preserved tumors and normal tissues to City of Hope researchers. Several thousand samples of diverse neoplasms are currently available in the frozen tumor bank. Additionally, many samples of normal tissue are available. Periodic inventories and sample testing are conducted to ensure quality of morphologic preservation and DNA/RNA integrity. All entries are recorded in a computerized database, and complete follow-up information is available for most samples in the tumor bank.
Optimally fixed samples of each tumor, often in more than one type of fixative, are available. In addition, multitissue blocks, containing many types of tumor and normal tissue, are available to facilitate retrospective screenings of new antibodies by immunohistochemistry and new molecular probes by in situ hybridization methods. Additional assistance and training in the performance of these techniques are provided to researchers for a nominal fee. Consultations with the users of this core facility by a qualified pathologist and/or molecular biologist are required.
|
|
Scheduling Services
Researchers wishing to utilize Pathology Core services must register each project by following these procedures:
- Fill out a Tumor Bank Registration Form for each project. This is required by the National Institutes of Health and must be kept on file with the Pathology Core.
- Submit a brief description of the project with tissue requirements and copy of IRB approval to Peiguo Chu, M.D., Ph.D., director of Surgical Pathology.
- Obtain approval from Lawrence Weiss, M.D., Chair, Department of Pathology, for all requests using patient clinical material (fresh tissue from the gross room, slides and blocks).
- Discuss the project with a staff pathologist to determine the type and amount of tissue needed and whether paraffin sections, clinical information from the surgical pathology report, etc. are also needed. We prefer to gather all the material together at one time in the interest of efficiency. Costs can also be discussed at this time.
|
|
|
Equipment
- Five 80o freezers currently used to house the tumor bank. All of these are equipped with alarms and liquid nitrogen back-up.
- One 20o freezer currently used to house DNA and RNA samples isolated form normal and tumor tissues.
- One automatic immunostainer (Biotek Solutions) capable of staining 240 slides simultaneously is currently available.
- One 486 computer and laser printer is used to update databases. This computer is connected to the Biostatistics computer system, and programmers are working on new systems to aid in accessing follow-up information on the tumor samples.
- A double-headed microscope with digital camera set up is located in the Pathology Core lab and is available for investigators. A qualified pathologist is available to interpret and photograph results from various studies.
- A Micron® cyostat for frozen sectioning.
- Perkin-Elmer in situ PCR machine.
|
|
|
|
|
E-mail us for pricing or more information about the Pathology Core or to schedule an appointment for services or equipment.
Faculty & Staff
Location:
City of Hope
1500 East Duarte Road
Duarte, CA 91010-3000
Familian Sciences Building, Room 1207
Phone: 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 62665
Fax: 626-301-8145
|
|
|
