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 research study is looking at tumor tissue samples from patients with soft tissue sarcoma.

OBJECTIVES:

• To develop a pilot program for the collection, archiving, and experimental analyses of soft tissue sarcomas (STS).
• To obtain STS tumors from cancer patients undergoing tumor removal or core needle biopsies.
• To evaluate cellular and molecular factors involved in STS oncogenesis by studying samples derived from human tumor specimens.
• To develop an accompanying bioinformatics database of the demographics of STS patients from which tumor specimens are derived for experimental study.

OUTLINE: Tumor tissue samples are analyzed for gene and protein expression by cDNA microarray analysis, RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, in vitro transformation assays, RNA interference, and Western blot or immunoprecipitation.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Meets one of the following criteria:

  • Patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) undergoing evaluation, treatment, and/or follow-up at the Arizona Cancer Center or University Medical Center
  • Patients undergoing surgical treatment for STS removal or core needle biopsy for medically indicated diagnostic or therapeutic purposes

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Not specified

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• Not specified

Patients undergoing surgical treatment for soft tissue sarcomas removal or core needle biopsy for medically indicated diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.