Iowa Cancer Registry

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Tissue Repository

Residual Tissue Repository (RTR) and Virtual Tissue Repository (VTR)

The Residual and Virtual Tissue Repositories (RTR, VTR) are a division of the Iowa Cancer Registry, a population-based and statewide cancer registry established in 1973. The Repositories are a core resource for cancer investigators whose work uses diagnostic tissue that is formalin fixed and paraffin embedded (FFPE).

The Residual Tissue Repository (RTR)
Since the mid-1990s, the Iowa Cancer Registry has retrieved FFPE cancer tissue from many hospitals and diagnostic pathology laboratories in Iowa. There are >500,000 FFPE tissue blocks archived by the Iowa Cancer Registry RTR, virtually all of which are >10 years old. These blocks are derived from >60,000 malignant tumors.

The Virtual Tissue Repository (VTR)
FFPE tissue blocks from recently diagnosed cancers (<10 years since diagnosis) are archived by hospitals and diagnostic pathology laboratories throughout Iowa. The Iowa Cancer Registry has long-standing relationships that facilitate research use of FFPE tissue blocks from some of these cancer cases. Investigators have potential access to >400,000 tumors via the VTR.

Most investigators who use RTR and/or VTR tissue blocks conduct immunohistochemistry studies on unstained slides or tissue cores. Some investigators conduct molecular studies. Histology services are available from the Histology Core Laboratory, a research histology resource in the University of Iowa Department of Pathology. This includes preparing unstained slides, tissue scrolls, H&E stained slides, project-specific immunohistochemistry stained slides, and obtaining tissue cores suitable for tissue microarray (TMA) studies.

Process for Accessing Tissue for Research

We request project-specific information in order to help us assess whether our resources may be of value to your investigation. To request tissue for research, please complete the tissue request application. [We realize that study protocols vary in stage of development and local approval, and that you may not be able to provide all requested information.] Once your inquiry is received, we will respond within 7 business days. Please note, the Iowa Cancer Registry provides access to tissue for the purpose of the collaborative academic research. We do not supply tissue to third party organizations, or industry vendors.

Contacts for Tissue Research

Marcus Nashelsky, MD
Medical Director, Iowa Cancer Registry
University of Iowa College of Public Health
(319) 353-7594
marcus-nashelsky@uiowa.edu

Michael O’Rorke, PhD
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology
University of Iowa College of Public Health
(319) 384-1560
michael-ororke@uiowa.edu

Related Pages

  • Research
    • Accessing Registry Data for Research
    • Tissue Repository

Latest News

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  • State Health Registry of Iowa issues Cancer in Iowa 2021 report, highlights racial disparities
  • State Health Registry of Iowa issues Cancer in Iowa 2020 report, highlights ovarian cancer
  • State Health Registry of Iowa issues Cancer in Iowa 2019 report, highlights HPV-related cancers
  • Obesity-related cancer highlights 2018 Cancer in Iowa report

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