North Pacific Surgical Association Surgeon leadership enables development of a colorectal cancer biorepository Vassiliki L. Tsikitis, M.D., Kim C. Lu, M.D.*, Miriam Douthit, M.A., Daniel O. Herzig, M.D. Department of Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mailcode L223A, Portland, OR 97239, USA KEYWORDS: Colon cancer; Rectal cancer; Biorepository; Tissue bank; Registry Abstract BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that surgeons can improve the collection of all necessary elements (tissue and clinical data) needed to build a complete, robust research biorepository. METHODS: All colorectal cancer patients treated at a university medical center and its affiliates were eligible for inclusion. Data were collected from an 18-page personal and family health questionnaire, a prospectively maintained clinical database, and molecular testing. Tissues included serum, plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and tumor and normal tissue. We compared 2 groups: the surgeon- referred group and the other clinician–referred group. The primary outcome was the complete collec- tion of data (ie, preoperative/staging clinical data, blood samples, and tissue collection). Statistical analysis was performed using the Student t test. RESULTS: Since 2006, 452 patients were approached, and 430 (95%) have been enrolled. Of these, 124 were referred by their surgeon, and 306 were consented in a clinic or over the telephone. Of pa- tients referred by their surgeon, tumor tissue, blood samples, and preoperative/staging clinical data were obtained in 119 patients; conversely, in patients referred by oncologists or other clinicians, only 133 patients had complete data (96% vs 43.5%, P , .05). A total of 257 tissue samples were obtained from all patients. Additional testing has been performed on 228 specimens including immunohisto- chemistry, microsatellite testing, and genotype mutational analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeon-directed enrollment in a biorepository improves the ability to collect blood and tissue samples. Surgeons should take a leadership role in the development of tumor biorepositories. Ó 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. The advancement of translational research depends on the quality collection of human tissues with accompanying complete clinical annotation. A biorepository with defined research goals and established standard operative proce- dures forwards science with the potential not only to improve existing treatments but also to further develop new drug targets and molecular biomarkers. 1 Surgeons play a key role in the establishment of a successful biobank. Without extensive collaborative support from operating rooms and surgeons, a biorepository cannot be developed. Pathologists are traditionally overseers of biorepositories. They have expertise in processing and storing human tis- sue. 2,3 Oncologists have extensive access to patients with tumors but have a limited ability to collect tissue. In this article, we show that a surgeon-directed bio- repository improves the collection of all necessary elements needed to build a complete, robust research resource. In 2005, the Oregon Health and Science University Division The authors declare no conflicts of interest. * Corresponding author. Tel.: 11-503-494-4373; fax: 11-503-494-8884. E-mail address: luk@ohsu.edu Manuscript received November 16, 2012; revised manuscript January 22, 2013 0002-9610/$ - see front matter Ó 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2013.01.020 The American Journal of Surgery (2013) 205, 563-565