Principle Investigator(s): Melissa A. Simon MD, MPH and Jien-Jun Wei MD

Manager: Jeremy Mathews jmathews@northwestern.edu

IRB Protocol Name: The Northwestern University Cancer Health Equity Research SPORE Biobank & Database (NU-CHERS) 

IRB Protocol Number: STU00214916

Description: Basic and translational research in cancer relies heavily on the use of human tumor tissue to understand the mechanisms of tumor formation and identify targets for new therapy. Tumor tissue banks that process and store biospecimens from patients during routine clinical care provide an unparalleled resource for cancer researchers to study human tumors and test new therapies. The ability to match tumor tissue to clinical outcomes information is of great importance to understand the implications of characteristic differences among patient’s tumors. Heterogeneities in protein and gene expression can be compared to clinical information about response to therapy and survival to determine the true impact of these factors. To facilitate meaningful research, a tumor bank must contain specimens from a sufficient number of patients to allow appropriately powered analyses across samples, and sufficiently preserved specimens from each patient to allow the relevant genomic and proteomic analysis. Additionally, non-tumor human tissue is necessary to differentiate neoplastic changes from non-tumor variants.

The purpose of this study is to leverage the recently NCI awarded P20 (P20CA233304) feasibility and planning grant to implement the Northwestern University Cancer Health Equity Research SPORE (NU-CHERS) to generate scientific findings and establish sustainable, collaborative, academic and community infrastructure. This data and specimen bank will serve as the foundation for a comprehensive translational and clinical cancer research program focused on gynecologic cancer health disparities, including development of new therapies and improved outcomes. 

The program has four (4) main components to meet the NCI’s grant requirements as detailed below.

1. The Gynecologic Biospecimen Pathology Core (GBPC) will maintain tissue/blood repositories for current and future NU-CHERS projects, in partnership with the John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County to enhance the availability of minority gynecologic biospecimens available to NU-CHERS researchers. 

2. The Research Projects will investigate the racial disparities experienced by gynecologic oncology patients. a. Research Project #1 is evaluating the racial disparities in endometrial cancer through tumor genomics. Findings will generate critical information that not only deepens our understanding of the biological racial differences in endometrial tumors but can be used as a predictive measure for racial differences in response to treatments (STU00213180). 

b. Research Project #2 focuses on racial differences in DNA methylation events in ovarian cancer which may impact response to platinum-based ovarian cancer treatment and explain the striking disparity in survival experienced by Black women. Findings will define pathways and genes regulated epigenetically, which could account for disparity in clinical outcomes and may become relevant targets for intervention (STU00213192). 

3. The Administrative Core (AC) is the focal point for scientific, fiscal and administrative oversight and integration. 

4. The Developmental Research Program (DRP) supports NU-CHERS infrastructure development goals and pipeline of translational research excellence. 

IRB Process: IRB approval or exemption must be obtained prior to release of data or specimens. The request form will ask you to input your IRB number or declare your IRB exemption.

Scientific Justification: The request form will ask you to attach a 'Methods/Justifications' document that should contain a scientific explanation justifying the disbursement of the clinical data and/or clinical specimens.