Acinic Cell Carcinoma Tissue Banks

At this point in time, we know of only one Tissue Bank devoted specifically to Acinic Cell Carcinoma tissue. That is the one at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem,
North Carolina, USA. See the section about their Tissue Bank below, for more details. There are other locations where isolated specimens of Acinic Cell Carcinoma may be banked, and available for research. We have listed any of those locations we know about towards the bottom of this page, under “Other Tissue Bank Sources”.

For Medical Professionals:

If your institution or organization has acinic / acinar cell carcinoma tissue already available for research, but nothing is being done with it, please let us know by email, especially if you think there is a chance they might make it available to Wake Forest and their Tissue Bank. Also let us know if you have tissue that you ARE using for research, or intend to. We would like to know what you learn! Thanks.

This tissue bank opened in April 2002. Up until August 15, 2003, it was only collecting fresh tissue Flash Frozen/Snap Frozen in Liquid Nitrogen or Cold Isopentane. It has just opened up the acceptance guidelines to include Fixed Formalin and Paraffin Embedded donations. Wake Forest's Tissue Bank will store all donated Acinic Cell Carcinoma tissue and make it available for research on this rare cancer. (Research will need to be proposed and evaluated). We at aciniccell.org strongly encourage all visitors to this website, with available (or potentially available) tissue to PLEASE DONATE TISSUE TO THIS BANK. Please tell your colleagues about it as well.

If we get enough tissue in this bank, we will be able to pursue urgently needed research. If there is no tissue, then there is no material for people to do research on. This is critical for all of us (ACC cancer patients). Unfortunately, in the 16 months between April 2002 and August 2003, there was only ONE donation of (flash frozen) tissue. That is not good progress. Please help us do better.

With regard to the two categories of tissue acceptance: The first is tissue that is flash/snap frozen in liquid nitrogen (details follow below). This kind of material must usually be requested in advance of surgery. So, Patients and surgeons who are about to perform or undergo ACC operations; Please consider doing this, to help both your own case and many other cancer patients in the future. This requires a little bit of planning.

In order to determine if there is potential Acinic Cell Carcinoma tissue that can be used from a procedure, obviously a diagnosis of ACC must be determined prior to that procedure. Usually this means that a biopsy must have been performed in advance. This is usually done with a "needle biopsy" or "needle aspirate". This procedure is often recommended anyway to diagnose the histology/pathology of a questionable lump or mass of unknown nature. Regardless of whether tissue donation is in the picture, this procedure is a wise course of action. It allows the patient and physicians to be aware of what kind of cancer they are dealing with in advance of surgery. And in fact, determining the cancer type (and potential aggressiveness) could affect the treatment choice. Surgery proposed may be more radical for certain cases and types. Radiation therapy (such as Fast Neutrons for ACC) may be proposed instead of surgery in some cases. Sometimes pre-operative radiation is suggested, in combination with surgery. None of these choices can be made in an informed way without knowing the cancer type in advance. Many ACC patients have only been diagnosed after surgery, and sometimes that is after choices have been made, that are irreversible. So there are various benefits to performing needle biopsies. The secondary benefit is being able to identify the need to save and flash-freeze fresh tissue and send it to Wake Forest. We at ACCIC recommend performing a needle biopy on ALL undiagnosed parotid area masses (and others as well), before surgical decisions are made, and before surgical procedures.

There are several documents available on this website to help you with the tissue donation process. One is a document describing in detail the Protocol and Tissue Requirements (for flash frozen tissue). This gives details on the procedures for collecting, protecting and shipping tissue. The second is a required Patient Consent Form (for flash frozen tissue), which must be submitted to Wake Forest University WITH your tissue sample. That gives Wake Forest the right to use your tissue for research. Note: There will likely be another form to fill out at the institution where you have surgery. This is a Release form, allowing your tissue to be sent TO Wake Forest. We have the first two forms available here (below). The third form you will likely be asked to fill out at your hospital, prior to surgery. Or you can ask for it in advance.

Please Note: Your hospital usually will know to keep whatever tissue is required for THEIR uses and your case file. But you should verify that fact before approving sending any tissue. Consult your doctor if there is not clarity on exactly how much tissue you should keep there.

The second category of tissue that is now being accepted at Wake Forest are non-fresh (non flash-frozen) samples. The formats being accepted are Fixed Formalin and Paraffin Embedded. Most cancer patients who have had surgery should have tissue like this stored at the facility where surgery was performed. You (the patient) need to contact the pathology lab or tissue storage department of your hospital or medical center. You will once again need to sign a release form at your institution to get tissue samples sent to Wake Forest. You will also need to sign a Patient Consent Form for Wake Forest University, so that they have permission to use your tissue for research. Once again, we strongly urge patients to take the time to do this donation. It could have a benefit not only for you, but for all ACC patients in the future.

We also remind you (as above) to make sure you leave enough fixed/embedded tissue at your institution for personal use on your case.

The specific forms for this second type of donation (Protocol and Tissue Requirements form, and Wake Forest Patient Consent form) are not posted yet. They should post within the next week or two (from 8/15/03). In the meantime, you can submit your email (above), so we can notify you when they post.

There are documents/forms below from the Wake Forest University Cancer Center Tissue Bank, which should answer most questions about this valuable program. If you still have any questions, you can contact:

These are documents related to the Wake Forest University Tissue Bank, specifically for donating Flash Frozen Tissue samples. They include:

Click on documents you want to view. At the bottom of each document page you have the option to print or download.

Oregon Cancer Center -Tissue/Tumor Procurement Facility
http://www.ohsu.edu/tumorbank/carcinoma2.html

They include a list of carcinomas and related tissues available. OHSU researchers can fill out and submit an order form online. It is unclear if you can submit for research from somewhere else.

As of their last update: August 12, 1996, they had listed one sample of acinic cell carcinoma:
TB-1405 717.2 Salivary Gland Tumor(acinic cell carcinoma)

Contact Information:
Oregon Health Sciences University
3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road
Mail code L586, Baird Hall 3030
Portland,Oregon 97201-3098
Office Phone:(503)494-1251
Fax Phone:(503)494-6197
Author: Laura Sherburne




	Current Tissue Bank Notes and Updates At this point in time, we know of only one Tissue Bank devoted specifically to Acinic Cell Carcinoma tissue. That is the one at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. See the section about their Tissue Bank below, for more details. There are other locations where isolated specimens of Acinic Cell Carcinoma may be banked, and available for research. We have listed any of those locations we know about towards the bottom of this page, under “Other Tissue Bank Sources”. Up until now, the Wake Forest University Tissue Bank was only accepting frozen tissue, which has to be collected and flash-frozen (snap frozen) in liquid nitrogen or similar immediately after surgery or biopsy. Logistics for freezing and transporting the tissue usually need to be arranged PRIOR to surgery, as timing is critical to keep tissue viable, and you need to have the correct equipment available. So usually this can only happen if you determine a diagnosis of Acinic Cell Carcinoma PRIOR to surgical procedure, usually by needle biopsy/needle aspirate. Please read all the details for donating tissue, under the Wake Forest Tissue Bank heading below. As of August 15, 2003, Wake Forest University has decided to also open up their tissue collecting program to include other stored forms of ACC tissue (formalin fixed and paraffin embedded blocks). These are much more common and available methods of stored tissue that many of you (patients) will have out there, even if you have not been aware of it. Most institutions will collect and store tissue from surgical procedures and biopsies, and keep them in formalin/formaldehyde, paraffin (wax blocks) or slides. Usually this kind of tissue will be stored indefinitely under the patient's name. This tissue is the property of the patient (normally), and can be requested and released. Usually, some minimal amount of tissue must be kept in the patient's permanent file, for internal use, and this cannot (and should not) be removed. But the excess is usually available. We will be posting instructions and forms for this new type of tissue donation for the Wake Forest University Tissue Bank in the very near future. If you are interested in donating such tissue for research, please enter your Email address below and the "Add to Mailing List" button. We’ll contact you when the forms are posted. We will not use your Email for other purposes, or distribute it in any way. Note: You are NOT approving sending tissue by entering your email. It is only to tell you when donation forms are available. For Medical Professionals: If your institution or organization has acinic / acinar cell carcinoma tissue already available for research, but nothing is being done with it, please let us know by email, especially if you think there is a chance they might make it available to Wake Forest and their Tissue Bank. Also let us know if you have tissue that you ARE using for research, or intend to. We would like to know what you learn! Thanks. ACINIC CELL CARCINOMA TISSUE BANK AT: WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER, NORTH CAROLINA, USA: This tissue bank opened in April 2002. Up until August 15, 2003, it was only collecting fresh tissue Flash Frozen/Snap Frozen in Liquid Nitrogen or Cold Isopentane. It has just opened up the acceptance guidelines to include Fixed Formalin and Paraffin Embedded donations. Wake Forest's Tissue Bank will store all donated Acinic Cell Carcinoma tissue and make it available for research on this rare cancer. (Research will need to be proposed and evaluated). We at aciniccell.org strongly encourage all visitors to this website, with available (or potentially available) tissue to PLEASE DONATE TISSUE TO THIS BANK. Please tell your colleagues about it as well. If we get enough tissue in this bank, we will be able to pursue urgently needed research. If there is no tissue, then there is no material for people to do research on. This is critical for all of us (ACC cancer patients). Unfortunately, in the 16 months between April 2002 and August 2003, there was only ONE donation of (flash frozen) tissue. That is not good progress. Please help us do better. With regard to the two categories of tissue acceptance: The first is tissue that is flash/snap frozen in liquid nitrogen (details follow below). This kind of material must usually be requested in advance of surgery. So, Patients and surgeons who are about to perform or undergo ACC operations; Please consider doing this, to help both your own case and many other cancer patients in the future. This requires a little bit of planning. In order to determine if there is potential Acinic Cell Carcinoma tissue that can be used from a procedure, obviously a diagnosis of ACC must be determined prior to that procedure. Usually this means that a biopsy must have been performed in advance. This is usually done with a "needle biopsy" or "needle aspirate". This procedure is often recommended anyway to diagnose the histology/pathology of a questionable lump or mass of unknown nature. Regardless of whether tissue donation is in the picture, this procedure is a wise course of action. It allows the patient and physicians to be aware of what kind of cancer they are dealing with in advance of surgery. And in fact, determining the cancer type (and potential aggressiveness) could affect the treatment choice. Surgery proposed may be more radical for certain cases and types. Radiation therapy (such as Fast Neutrons for ACC) may be proposed instead of surgery in some cases. Sometimes pre-operative radiation is suggested, in combination with surgery. None of these choices can be made in an informed way without knowing the cancer type in advance. Many ACC patients have only been diagnosed after surgery, and sometimes that is after choices have been made, that are irreversible. So there are various benefits to performing needle biopsies. The secondary benefit is being able to identify the need to save and flash-freeze fresh tissue and send it to Wake Forest. We at ACCIC recommend performing a needle biopy on ALL undiagnosed parotid area masses (and others as well), before surgical decisions are made, and before surgical procedures. There are several documents available on this website to help you with the tissue donation process. One is a document describing in detail the Protocol and Tissue Requirements (for flash frozen tissue). This gives details on the procedures for collecting, protecting and shipping tissue. The second is a required Patient Consent Form (for flash frozen tissue), which must be submitted to Wake Forest University WITH your tissue sample. That gives Wake Forest the right to use your tissue for research. Note: There will likely be another form to fill out at the institution where you have surgery. This is a Release form, allowing your tissue to be sent TO Wake Forest. We have the first two forms available here (below). The third form you will likely be asked to fill out at your hospital, prior to surgery. Or you can ask for it in advance. Please Note: Your hospital usually will know to keep whatever tissue is required for THEIR uses and your case file. But you should verify that fact before approving sending any tissue. Consult your doctor if there is not clarity on exactly how much tissue you should keep there. The second category of tissue that is now being accepted at Wake Forest are non-fresh (non flash-frozen) samples. The formats being accepted are Fixed Formalin and Paraffin Embedded. Most cancer patients who have had surgery should have tissue like this stored at the facility where surgery was performed. You (the patient) need to contact the pathology lab or tissue storage department of your hospital or medical center. You will once again need to sign a release form at your institution to get tissue samples sent to Wake Forest. You will also need to sign a Patient Consent Form for Wake Forest University, so that they have permission to use your tissue for research. Once again, we strongly urge patients to take the time to do this donation. It could have a benefit not only for you, but for all ACC patients in the future. We also remind you (as above) to make sure you leave enough fixed/embedded tissue at your institution for personal use on your case. The specific forms for this second type of donation (Protocol and Tissue Requirements form, and Wake Forest Patient Consent form) are not posted yet. They should post within the next week or two (from 8/15/03). In the meantime, you can submit your email (above), so we can notify you when they post. Wake Forest Information and Contacts: There are documents/forms below from the Wake Forest University Cancer Center Tissue Bank, which should answer most questions about this valuable program. If you still have any questions, you can contact: Gilda Saluta Wake Forest University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Tissue Bank Medical Center Blvd. Winston-Salem, N.C. 27157 Phone: (336) 716-3721 Dr. Greg Kucera - Director of the CCCWFU Tumor Tissue Core Laboratory Phone: (336)-716-6348 W. Fred McGuirt ,M.D. James A. Harrill Professor & Chair Dept. of Otolaryngology Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, N.C. 27157 Documents For Flash Frozen Tissue Donation: These are documents related to the Wake Forest University Tissue Bank, specifically for donating Flash Frozen Tissue samples. They include: A letter from the Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology to Members of the American Society of Head & Neck Surgery, announcing the Tissue Bank, and requesting tissue. He also requests information on any other acinic cell carcinoma research or activity. CLICK HERE A form from Wake Forest University describing in detail the Protocol and Tissue Requirements for Flash Frozen tissue samples. CLICK HERE Patient Consent Form, which patients need to submit to Wake Forest when donating Flash Frozen tissue. (There is a different form for donating tissue in other storage formats.) CLICK HERE Click on documents you want to view. At the bottom of each document page you have the option to print or download. OTHER TISSUE BANK SOURCES Oregon Cancer Center -Tissue/Tumor Procurement Facility http://www.ohsu.edu/tumorbank/carcinoma2.html They include a list of carcinomas and related tissues available. OHSU researchers can fill out and submit an order form online. It is unclear if you can submit for research from somewhere else. As of their last update: August 12, 1996, they had listed one sample of acinic cell carcinoma: TB-1405 717.2 Salivary Gland Tumor(acinic cell carcinoma) Contact Information: Oregon Health Sciences University 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road Mail code L586, Baird Hall 3030 Portland,Oregon 97201-3098 Office Phone:(503)494-1251 Fax Phone:(503)494-6197 Author: Laura Sherburne BACK TO MAIN PAGE