Studying 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