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

PURPOSE: This research study is collecting and storing blood samples from patients with cancer.

OBJECTIVES:

• To establish a repository for long-term storage of DNA obtained from patients treated at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
• To establish a mechanism whereby investigators can analyze correlations between genetic polymorphisms and clinical outcomes (e.g., response to treatment).

OUTLINE: Additional blood samples are collected for banking from patients while they are scheduled for routine blood draw as a part of their normal care. Samples are stored in a secure place under the control of the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Tissue Retrieval service. The samples may be used for DNA, RNA, or protein extraction and analyses, as well as generation of cell lines.

Demographic data (ethnicity, race, age, and sex), diagnosis, family history, and previous treatments (chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery) are recorded on the case report form and kept in a secure location in the Office of Human Research Services (OHRS).

Patients may have their samples removed and destroyed at any time.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed malignancy or bone marrow disorder (i.e., myelodysplasia, myeloproliferative syndrome, or aplastic anemia)
• Must be undergoing treatment or planning to undergo treatment at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Not specified

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics

Patients seen at CINJ who have a diagnosis of cancer and plan to be treated at CINJ will be asked to participate in this DNA banking resource