Research Resources
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Departmental Cores (DC)Cytopathology CoreAnnenberg Building, 15th Floor, Rooms 15-64 and 15-65 Contact PersonDirector: David Burstein, M.D. The primary activity of the Core is diagnosis of cancer, precancerous lesions and infectious diseases. The service it routinely renders to clinical and basic researchers is to perform diagnostic evaluation of their samples from various organs and tissues, as well as of cells from body fluids: CSF, urine and effusions. Viable tumor cells identified in effusions may be adaptable to growth in cell culture in vitro; body cavity fluids of appropriate, consenting patients are thus made available to investigators wishing to obtain cultures for further study of tumor cells and of substances they shed into the fluid. Cytological evaluation of fine needle biopsies frequently precedes surgical excision of tumors. Upon request, the Core will convey these diagnoses to investigators interested in particular cancer types thus permitting them to arrange for obtaining tumor tissue during subsequent surgical procedures. The Core is equipped with microscopes and laboratory tools needed for cytopathological examination of cells and organisms in specimens from various body sites, and with a combined diagnostic and investigative immunoperoxidase facility for detecting the presence of specific proteins in cytology specimens. The Core's expertise in the investigative application of tests for specific antibodies, oncogene products, growth factors and nuclear proteins, is also available to the research community. The Core staff can perform these tests for Medical School investigators or provide advice on procedures they may wish to carry out in their own laboratory. Departmental Cores |