| Biospecimen Core Resource

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) selected the International Genome Consortium, Phoenix, Ariz., lead by principal investigator Robert Penny, M.D., Ph.D., to manage the Biospecimen Core Resource (BCR). The BCR is a centralized laboratory that reviews and processes blood and tissue samples and their associated data using optimized standard operating procedures for the entire TCGA Research Network.

The work of the BCR includes the following important functions:

• Serving as the interface between the TCGA program and the different Tissue Source Sites collecting tumor and matched normal controls
• Ensuring and verifying that TCGA human subjects protections and guidelines are adhered to and that all regulations are followed at each Tissue Source Site
• Including use of language consistent with the TCGA informed consent documents
• Examining of all biospecimens to ensure they meet rigorous standards for each tumor type (including percent necrosis and percent tumor nuclei)
• Reviewing of pathology to ensure accurate diagnosis and inclusion in TCGA
• Collecting clinical information for each tissue and applying standardized terminology, definitions and formats that are caBIG^® compliant
• Extracting and distributing DNA and RNA from tissue samples to each of the genomic characterization and sequencing centers