Principal Investigator: Sandeep Samant, MD

IRB protocol name: NU 15N01

IRB protocol number: STU00202177

The Head and Neck Tissue Bank (HNTB) aims to collect, store, use and distribute high quality biospecimens, to support basic science, clinical, and translational research across Northwestern University and outside entities that partner with Northwestern Investigators (e.g. multi-institutional projects, pharmaceutical companies in clinical trials, etc.), with an ultimate goal to result in better cancer detection, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

Tumor tissue from consenting patients will be obtained during biopsy or surgery performed for routine clinical care, and will be banked as frozen tissue for molecular analysis, paraffinembedded tissue for histopathology and dissociated tumor cells for cytometric analysis (such as flow cytometry) and cell culture. Fresh tissue taken during routine biopsy or surgery may also be used to develop primary cell cultures and xenografts in mice, to improve the experimental models of head and neck malignancies. Such models, closely mimic real tumors in patients or premalignant conditions, and are optimal for evaluating cancer pathogenesis, genes or proteins driving the tumor, factors contributing to an aggressive biology of the tumor and resistance to treatment, as well as identifying new targets for treatment. Blood and other types of biospecimens will be stored frozen for molecular analysis and biomarker studies.

Committee members for data/specimen release:

• Sandeep Samant, MD (Chief of Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology)
• Ajit Paintal, MD (Department of Pathology)
• Demirkan Gursel, M.Sc. Ph.D. (Scientific Director of the Pathology Core Facility)

Requesting specimens:

• To obtain materials from the Head and Neck Tumor Bank (HNTB), investigators will complete and submit a form that describes the project, the number and type of specimens requested, and documentation of IRB approval for their specific project.

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.