This pilot project, funded by a Breast Cancer Faculty Infrastructure Award, would determine the feasibility of obtaining samples of normal breast tissue from organ donors and collecting risk factor data from next-of-kin. The underlying goal of this initiative is to determine the associations between stages of breast development, risk factors for breast cancer, and gene expression. The study investigators are members of DCEG, CCR and the Transplant Resource Center of Maryland (TRC), a non-profit organization certified by HCFA and the state that processes most organ and tissue donations in Maryland. Trained staff or social workers employed by TRC who routinely obtain consent for donation from next-of-kin will also obtain consent for this study. The existing consent form for organ or tissue donation also includes informed consent for donation of tissue for research. Following organ procurement from 20 volunteers, trained surgical technicians employed by TRC who routinely assist intra-operatively, will sterilely remove tissue from each breast quadrant and split the samples; one portion will be embedded in OCT and snap frozen in liquid nitrogen and the other fixed in 10% buffered formalin. Samples of adipose tissue, blood, urine and endometrium (for menstrual dating) will also be obtained. MES in conjunction with SMH and BKV will assess the samples histopathologically and determine the quanitity and quality of macromolecules (RNA, DNA, protein) contained within the tissues.

Pending demonstration of the feasibility of this general approach, we will pursue additional funding for a larger study with optimized procedures.