OUTLINE: This is a multi-center study.
STUDY PLAN:
SUBJECT IDENTIFICATION AND CONSENT:
Sites may approach all subjects who attend an appointment for evaluation of metastatic urothelial cancer for inclusion. Study staff review consent documents with potential subjects and answer any and all questions. If a subject desires additional time or wishes to delay enrollment in the study, he/she is given a copy of the consent document and informed about how to ask questions or enroll at a later date. If the subject chooses to participate in the study, he or she signs the consent, and is given a copy for his or her own records.
BIOSPECIMEN COLLECTION AND PROCESSING:
When subjects are consented for entry into this study, they consent to access of any archival tumor tissue (whether from the primary or any metastatic site) for genetic analysis. This tissue is not de-identified at the time of testing so that a subject specific report may be generated and sent to the treating physician. Further, subjects consent to the indefinite use of their specimens and linked clinical information for ongoing or future biomedical research. Additionally, sites inform subjects during the consent process that researchers may use their information for genetic research including research on somatic or germline mutations. The specimens and report provided to HCRN are de-identified and future analyses will be performed on coded (de-identified) data/specimens.
Collection of Archived Tumor Samples:
* After the subject is consented, sites will request primary and/or metastatic archived tumor tissue. The tissue specimen sent may come in the form of a block or slides. Needle biopsy is also acceptable.
* Each institution can use its own standard operating procedure for the preparation of the FFPE material. Each participating site will ship specimens accessed under GU15-217 directly to the lab performing the NGS analysis. Sites will also request corresponding pathology report(s). A de-identified pathology report will then be sent to HCRN with the tissue.
Collection of Blood for Research Purposes Only:
* Each subject will have 47 mL of blood collected and banked for future testing. 10mL of the sample will be used for plasma for banking. 17 mL of the sample will be used for PBMC isolation and cryopreservation. 20mL of the sample will be used for plasma for cfDNA. Any DNA analysis of blood (including possible germline analysis) is for research purposes only and will be performed on coded (de-identified) samples.
Report Generation:
* The subject specific report generated includes a summary of genomic alterations highlighting those variations considered potentially actionable, a concise discussion of the molecular analyses, a list of potential clinical trials incorporating relevant targeted agents, and potential therapeutic options based on the specific alterations discovered along with associated levels of evidence for each. The selection of clinical trials and levels of evidence provided are based on extensive review and analysis of the literature as well as a BCGC convened panel of experts in bladder cancer. This BCGC expert panel will work with the NGS lab to ensure that all potential clinical trials are represented in the individual subject reports.
Storage for Future Research:
* The BCAN Biobank at Hoosier Cancer Research Network (HCRN) will store DNA and RNA isolated for the study, additional FFPE and any biospecimens remaining after the NGS. If at any point a subject wishes to withdraw from the study, the subject will contact their study physician. HCRN will destroy any specimens that it may link to the subject. Once specimens have been stripped of all identifying information or links to identifying information they cannot be recalled to be destroyed.
COMMUNICATION OF NGS RESULTS TO PROVIDER AND SUBJECT:
After NGS testing is complete, a subject specific report will be provided to the subject's treating physician either in hard copy and/or via on-line portal (typically within 14 business days from receipt of tumor tissue) and a de-identified report to HCRN. If an addendum is made to a report, an updated report will be provided to the treating physician and HCRN in the manner described above. During the informed consent process, sites inform each subject that his or her physician will communicate results of the genetic testing on their tumor specimens. Along with the results that are communicated, the subjects' treating physician will explain the implications of their testing results, including whether their genetic profiles render them potentially eligible for a specific therapy or clinical trial.
Sites also inform subjects that researchers will store any specimens remaining after genetic profiling of their tumor is complete. Storage continues indefinitely for future biomedical research. This may include development of commercial products from their specimens.
Sites must explain to subjects that although a blood sample is being obtained, this study is not aimed at discovering germline mutations. Sites must emphasize that genetic analyses performed within this study should not be construed as genetic testing for genetic mutations associated with hereditary cancer susceptibility. Nevertheless, because NGS may be performed on blood, it is possible that a germline mutation that predisposes a subject to cancer will incidentally be discovered. Subjects will not receive any information about such mutations, however, as this analysis will be performed on de-identified samples.
ABSTRACTION OF MEDICAL RECORDS:
Research staff at each site abstracts clinical information from each subject and enters the information into the web based clinical research platform (EDC system). Data abstracted includes details on the following: demographics, cancer diagnosis, cancer stage, surgical and medical management, any treatment decisions made in response to the NGS results communicated to the physician and any response/longer term outcome data as a result of these treatment decisions.
ACCESS TO DATA/SPECIMENS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH:
The database links coded clinical and genetic data, creating a biospecimen and data repository. These data, along with biospecimens stored at HCRN, will ultimately be available for researchers with BCGC-approved and IRB-approved studies allowing access to these data/specimens, and with HCRN managing the data, protecting the confidentiality of study subjects.
