Scientific Advances Using CHTN Tissue

The CHTN has contributed to a wide range of scientific advances in cancer research and research on other diseases since its inception in 1987. During the last 10 years, more than 1500 publications have resulted from studies using CHTN specimens. CHTN specimens have contributed to discoveries of the role of genetic alterations in cancer initiation, progression and metastasis and studies to improve diagnostic accuracy and classification of tumors. CHTN specimens have also been critical to determining the relevance to humans of findings from research using animals and cell lines.

Examples of the types of research projects supported include:

• the development of mouse/human chimeric and xenotransplant models for cancer research
• studies of carcinogen activation, DNA adduct formation and detoxification in human tissue, organ specificity and inter-individual susceptibility
• studies to examine pharmacologic effects of chemotherapeutic drugs in human systems
• studies of epidermal transport and drug delivery

The CHTN has provided specimens needed for the development of emerging technologies and the application of these technologies to study problems in cancer biology, and to develop markers for diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of response to therapy. In recent years, the CHTN has supported a wide spectrum of oncogenomic studies including:

• Characterization of epigenetic lesions as non-random and tumor specific type events.
• Studies of gene expression profiles and studies to determine the clinical usefulness of such profiles.
• Identification of novel diagnostic molecular markers by exploiting genome wide expression tools.
• Methylation microarray analysis of cancers

Last updated: 02/05/07. for comments or concerns about this web site please contact: Steve Marroulis at tissueresources@imsweb.com