title: Surgeon leadership enables development of a colorectal cancer biorepository.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We hypothesized that surgeons can improve the collection of all necessary elements (tissue and clinical data) needed to build a complete, robust research biorepository.
  
  
  METHODS
  All colorectal cancer patients treated at a university medical center and its affiliates were eligible for inclusion. Data were collected from an 18-page personal and family health questionnaire, a prospectively maintained clinical database, and molecular testing. Tissues included serum, plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and tumor and normal tissue. We compared 2 groups: the surgeon-referred group and the other clinician-referred group. The primary outcome was the complete collection of data (ie, preoperative/staging clinical data, blood samples, and tissue collection). Statistical analysis was performed using the Student t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Since 2006, 452 patients were approached, and 430 (95%) have been enrolled. Of these, 124 were referred by their surgeon, and 306 were consented in a clinic or over the telephone. Of patients referred by their surgeon, tumor tissue, blood samples, and preoperative/staging clinical data were obtained in 119 patients; conversely, in patients referred by oncologists or other clinicians, only 133 patients had complete data (96% vs 43.5%, P < .05). A total of 257 tissue samples were obtained from all patients. Additional testing has been performed on 228 specimens including immunohistochemistry, microsatellite testing, and genotype mutational analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgeon-directed enrollment in a biorepository improves the ability to collect blood and tissue samples. Surgeons should take a leadership role in the development of tumor biorepositories.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mailcode L223A, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
authors.forename: Vassiliki L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Tsikitis
authors.forename: Kim C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Douthit
authors.forename: Daniel O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Herzig
mesh_terms: D018070:Biological Specimen Banks / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D035843:Biomedical Research; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003107:Colorectal Surgery; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology; D009922:Oregon; D010820:Physicians; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012042:Registries; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data