Molecular Analysis of Liver Cancer
Molecular Analysis of Liver Cancer
RATIONALE: Studying samples of tumor tissue from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to cancer.
PURPOSE: This laboratory study is looking at biomarkers in stored tumor samples from younger patients with liver cancer.
OBJECTIVES:
OUTLINE: Archived tissue samples are collected from the pathology department at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Tissue samples are analyzed by genomic analysis using array comparative genomic hybridization, target gene mutation analysis by PCR, and proteomic profiling on fixed tissues using various proteomic methods, including IHC and mass spectrometry. Samples are also examined for association between molecular aberrations and clinicopathologic features found in each disease.
Clinical patient data (i.e., age, sex, race, date of diagnosis, risk factors, histology, surgical staging, follow-ups, date of death, and adjuvant therapy) are also collected.
Inclusion Criteria:
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
Exclusion Criteria:
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: