The Castleman Disease Collaborative Network Biobank: A Collection of Biospecimens and Clinical Data to Facilitate Research

The CDCN proposes to establish a biobank and associated clinical data for Castleman disease. Tissue and fluid (blood and saliva) samples will be collected both prospectively and retrospectively. Blood or saliva samples may also be collected from relatives of Castleman patients. Because of the scarcity of these samples, it will be necessary to make efforts to access all available cases. Many cases will occur at hospitals that do not have an existing relationship with the CDCN and may not have experience with tissue procurement; however, this is the only way to obtain the vast majority of samples. Samples may be used immediately, banked for future use, or further processed into DNA, cell lines, tissue microarrays, etc.

The samples will be stored at Precision for Medicine, a biorepository company that specializes in collection, processing, storage and distribution of biospecimens. Only researchers (US or international) who have applied to the CDCN and have been approved by the Biobank Advisory Board will be eligible to access biospecimens and/or data. The Biobank Advisory Board will be comprised of clinicians and scientists with experience in clinical and investigational practices in Castleman Disease.