RATIONALE: Collecting and storing samples of tissue, blood, and saliva from patients with cancer to study in the laboratory may help the study of cancer in the future.

PURPOSE: This laboratory study is collecting and storing tissue samples from patients with head and neck cancer.

OBJECTIVES:

• Establish a tissue/specimen bank of biologic specimens collected from patients with proven or suspected head and neck cancer.
• Establish a database to link materials acquisition and pathologic and clinical information on these patients.
• Correlate clinical-pathological findings on these patients with future scientific studies using the patient database.
• Test new hypotheses as they emerge.

OUTLINE: This is a prospective, multicenter study.

Patients enrolled on active Radiation Therapy Oncology Group clinical trials undergo biopsy or surgical resection of head and neck tumors or premalignant lesions at participating institutions. Tissue and other specimens collected at the time of biopsy or surgery are submitted to the Head and Neck Cancer Tissue/Specimen Bank which acts as a central repository for processing, storing, and preserving patient specimens for translational research. Tissue samples include paraffin-embedded blocks or fresh or frozen samples of normal squamous mucosa, tumors, or premalignant lesions of the upper aerodigestive tract. Other specimens for tissue banking include serum, plasma, and lymphocytes isolated from peripheral blood, as well as samples of patient saliva. Cells obtained from tissue bank specimens may also be used to establish cell lines for future research.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: An unlimited number of specimens will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Confirmed or suspected head and neck cancer

  • Primary site recurrence allowed

• Potentially eligible for or participating in an active Radiation Therapy Oncology Group treatment clinical trial

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Zubrod performance status 0-1

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Concurrent radiotherapy, drug therapy, biopsy, or surgery allowed

Patients with confirmed or suspected head and neck cancer