The SPORE repository has more than 50,000 specimen aliquots from more than 4,500 consented patients with prostate cancer treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and NorthShore University Health System. In addition to frozen tissue on nearly 3,500 patients, the repository has blood (serum, plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and blood spots) and urine samples. Sample accrual has been expanded to include not only patients undergoing surgery, but also non-surgical patients with advanced disease who are undergoing radiotherapy or chemotherapy, thus spanning the spectrum of disease. Corresponding formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue is available on each prostatectomy case, and biopsies are available in most cases as well. More than 50 tissue microarrays have been generated and are available to interested investigators for research studies. Detailed clinical and pathologic data associated with each specimen is uploaded by data coordinators into the SPORE database sample management systems with appropriate protection of patient confidentiality.

• IRB Process: IRB approval or exemption must be obtained prior to release of data or specimens. The request form will ask you 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 jutifying the disburment of the clincial data and/or clinical speicmens.
• Questions:
  • For all other questions about the specimen request process, please contact:
    • Michael Gurley
      Database Programmer Prostate SPORE
      m-gurley@northwestern.edu
  • To discuss your specimen needs, please contact a SPORE Biospecimen director:
    • Ximing Yang, MD PhD
      Co-Director, SPORE Biospecimen Procurement Core
      xyang@northwestern.edu
      312.926.3213