National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Contracts Branch, DERT, P.O. Box 12874, Building 4401, Research Commons, 79 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

A -- IDENTIFICATION OF THE HEREDITARY PROSTATE CANCER GENE BASED ON FINNISH FAMILIES" SOL N01-HG-55389 POC Vondia C. Malone, Contract Specialist, (919) 541-0428,e-mail MaloneV@niehs.nih.gov, and FAX (919) 541-2712 WEB: NONE, NONE. E-MAIL: NONE, NONE. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences intends to negotiate a modification to contract number N01-ES-55389 with the University of Tampere, in Tampere Finland. This modification will allow for a continuation of the family ascertainment, specimen collection as well as research on genealogy and family links in Finland and expand current families to include more distant relatives. All the procedures utilized and developed in the prostate/breast cancer studies thus far would continue to be used. Consent forms and the family questionnaires require no changes. The tasks to be performed in the two (2) year extension of the contract conform with those of the original statement of work of the contract. Specifically the tasks are:(1) determine the number of potential participants with HPC. (2) find out how many of those identified in the data base search, through a preliminary questionnaire, are available for sampling and are willing to participate (3) collect blood specimens from participants for the purpose of extracting DNA for shipment to the Project Officer for linkage disequilibrium analyses and other tests,(4) undertake a comparison of genetic changes in sporadic and hereditary prostate cancer by molecular cytogenetic techniques. It is the Government's estimate that two full time laboratory technicians, one full time nurse and two scientists/special experts shall be required to complete the work. The technicians shall be responsible for blood collection,isolation of DNAs and preparation of paraffin embedded tissues as well as establishment of permanent lymphoblast cultures from living affected. The nurse shall be responsible for contacting patients, relatives, coordinating sample collection, questionnaires and family data from genealogy. The two scientists shall perform epidemiological studies, oversee specimen collection, as well as have responsibility for integration of clinical information on the patients with genealogical studies and genetic data. The period of performance of the contract will be extended twenty-four months with a planned expiration date of September 20, 2001. Authority: 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), as set forth in FAR 6.302-1 -- Only One Responsible Source. The progress under this contract has been substantial and of great benefit in the search for and narrowing down of susceptibility loci for prostate and breast cancer. Finland is uniquely suited for studies of the genetics of prostate/breast cancer since the population is genetically relatively homogeneous because most of its members trace back to a small number of settlers. Furthermore, the contract has fully utilized and built on the existing comprehensive and complete databases on the medical characteristics of the Finland population. These databases facilitate identifying individuals and families with various medical conditions such as prostate cancer, saving enormous amount of time compared to doing the same study in the United States where records are dispersed and very incomplete of nonexistent. See Numbered Notes 22 and 26. Posted 07/19/99 (W-SN355932). (0200)

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