Tissue Sample Collection From Patients With Head and Neck Cancer and From Healthy Participants

Head and Neck Tumor Tissue Repository and Clinical Database

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

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

OBJECTIVES:

• Maintain and update a clinical database pertaining to diagnosis and treatment outcome of patients with head and neck cancer.
• Develop a repository of biospecimens from these patients.

OUTLINE: Tumor tissue samples and/or bronchial washings are collected from patients undergoing planned surgery and/or bronchoscopy, respectively. Buccal swabs and/or mouthwash samples and saliva samples are collected. Patients also undergo blood sample collection at baseline and then every 2-6 months thereafter.

Healthy participants contribute blood samples, buccal swabs, and mouthwash samples at baseline only.

Information about medical and family history and cancer risk factors is also collected.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: No limit.

FOLLOW UP: Indefinite, until date of death or lost to follow up.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Meets 1 of the following criteria:

  • Diagnosis of head and neck cancer
  • Being treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for the cancer
  • Healthy participant

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Not specified

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• Not specified