'Warm-Autopsy' Metastatic Prostate Cancer Tissue Harvesting

Once men with prostate cancer develop metastases, most health care is done on an out-patient, at-home basis unless complications develop. Surgical intervention for metastatic prostate disease is often only employed in rare circumstances. Therefore, the supply of metastatic tissue for prostate cancer is limited. However, this tissue will potentially provide some of the best resources for research into prostate cancer. This catch-22 has hindered widespread research efforts.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins (JH) have implemented a program whereby patients with advanced metastatic prostate cancer are consented to allow post-mortem examination and harvesting of tissue. These patients often die at home or in hospice care, then are transported to JH at the expense of the researchers for immediate examination and harvesting. This program has received IRB/Office of Research approval from JH, and has received nationwide acclaim for its value to prostate research.

Personnel from our facility have had the opportunity to observe Dr. G. Steven Bova, the director of this program at JH, and his team. We have done some trial autopsies on patients consented for a full autopsy using the protocol for a warm autopsy, including banking of tissue, blood and body fluids. We have currently applied for IRB approval at the University of Pittsburgh. Our Tissue Bank hopes that our program development will support the work done by Dr. Bova, and appreciate learning from his experiences in this ambitious endeavor.

• Tissue Banking Development
• The Western Pennsylvania Prostate Tissue Bank
• Method of Processing Radical Prostatectomies
• 'Warm-Autopsy' Metastatic Prostate Cancer Tissue Harvesting
• Kidney and Bladder Module Banking