Histopathology & Tissue Research Support

Contact Krysta Chaldekas, (202) 687-4815 or Krysta.Chaldekas@georgetown.edu

1. Tissue Collection — Fresh Frozen Tissues

• Consent from Georgetown University Hospital patients are obtained for the collection of excess tissues.
• Fresh human tissues are collected, frozen, stored, and inventoried from various anatomic sites.
  • Brain
  • Breast
  • Colon
  • Esophagus
  • Kidney
  • Liver
  • Lung
  • Pancreas
  • Stomach
  • Thyroid
  • Uterus
• Requests for frozen specimens must go through a specific approval process by the Biospecimen UseCommittee. The review is based on scientific merit and statistical validity of the proposed project, amongst other factors.

2. Tissue Collection — GUH Archival Paraffin Embedded Tissues

• Paraffin embedded human tissue blocks are available from the archives of the Pathology Department of the Georgetown University Hospital.
• HTB conducts database searches of pathology records, as requested, for retrieval of human tissue blocks. Patient confidentiality is maintained in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
• Sectioning of archival blocks is conducted in the Histology Laboratory.
• All protocols requiring human material must have IRB approval and must adhere to HIPAA guidelines. HTB maintains an annually renewable IRB approval allowing for LCCC investigators to use the archived patient material in a de-identified fashion.
• Permission for tissue retrieval can be granted to investigators after a one-time short application process.
• All investigators complete a HTB Repository Use Form to utilize HTSR services.

3. Indivumed

• Indivumed is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, and has a partnership with Georgetown Lombardi Cancer Center to establish a state of the art biobanking protocol that provides integrated clinical and molecular database for cancer which will be used for the G-DOC development.
• Indivumed collects both fresh and paraffin embedded tissues, with matched blood and urine specimens.
• Of these collected specimens, a portion is available for LCCC investigators and requests for these samples will be subjected to the same peer review outlined above.

4. Special Collections Protocols

• HTB also provides services for PIs who have their special projects requiring tissue procurement for their studies.
• HTB adheres to the collection procedures provided by the investigators.

5. Pathology Consultation

Dr. Harris is available to review slides with investigators on an individual basis. Appointments can be made via email (Brent.Harris@georgetown.edu).

Histology services include:

• Tissue fixation and processing for paraffin and frozen tissue blocks
• Paraffin and frozen tissue microtomy
• The Histology Laboratory interacts closely with the Human Tissue Bank to provide unstained and stained tissue sections from the appropriately chosen paraffin blocks that fulfill the investigator’s research.
• Routine and non-routine histology stains
• Customized services consultation and advice for fixation and tissue preparation to help meet specific research goals.

Contact Deborah Berry, (202) 687-0641 or dlb82@georgetown.edu.

The laboratory provides the following services:

• Two DAKO Autostainers for high throughput immunohistochemical staining
• Protocol development using new antibodies from commercial vendors or custom antibodies.
• Optimization of staining intensity and specificity
• Assisting with interpretation.
• Protein expression within tissues by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence
• HistoRx for quantitative fluorescent immunostaining

The laboratory is equipped with:

• Olympus BX61 DSU Fluorescent scope with spinning disc confocal, equipped with digital cameras:
  • Brightfield
  • Immunofluorescence filters
    • FITC
    • Cy3
    • Cy5
    • DAPI
  • Z-stack
• Dual headed microscopes
• Scanning Qicam Q Imaging Camera on Olympus BX51 microscope for scanning full slides and TMAs
• ImageProPlus Software package for automated quantification of stained tissue sections
• Stereomicroscope: Olympus SZX12 with 0.5X and 1.2X objectives and zoom (0.7X-9.0) give high magnification for dissection and examination.
  • Equipped with Olympus DP12 digital camera for imaging
• Histo Rx microscope system for quantitative immunofluorescence imaging
  • Measure intensity of fluorescence for levels of protein expression
  • Measure subcellular localization

Dr. Harris is available to review slides with investigators on an individual basis. Appointments can be made via email (Brent.Harris@georgetown.edu)