Cancer devastates the lives of thousands of South Carolinians and their families every year. Even more alarming, our state reports excessive mortality rates—far above the national average—in four cancers: prostate, lung, colorectal, and breast.

But there is hope. We know where the treatments and possible cures for these and other identifi ed cancers will be found. Breakthrough solutions will come from skilled research scientists working in modern laboratories with access to large selections of cancerous tissue samples.

This reality is driving the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and Palmetto Health
to commit signifi cant resources to support the South Carolina Cancer Tissue Bank.

“A tissue bank is to the war on cancer what a financial bank is to a community’s commerce.”
—William M. Butler, M.D., Medical Director, South Carolina Cancer Center

Our goals are straightforward, strategic, and urgent:

• Provide scientists access to the vast amount of cancer tissue samples required to support clinical research projects

• Focus on understanding why particular cancers common in the Palmetto State have mortality rates far higher than the national average

• Serve as a magnet to attract talented, well-funded scientists to the area

• Identify genes controlling cancer growth and its insidious spread

• Develop new cancerfighting drugs and better diagnostic tests

• Create a comprehensive, statewide database with information specific to cancers common in South Carolinians

Operations and Oversight—Stored cancer tissues will be available as frozen sections to scientists
interested in obtaining samples. Researchers must submit a formal request to the Resource Allocation
Committee (RAC) and sign a Usage Agreement. RAC will determine the scientific merit of each request and prioritize for optimal use of the tissue.

Project Sustainability—After the Cancer Tissue Bank has been successfully operating for three years, it is anticipated that ongoing operating expenses will be funded through core research grants that involve the use of tissue and fees charged for the services provided by the bank.
The site chosen to house the Columbia branch of this statewide initiative is Palmetto Health Richland
Medical Park Fourteen. The estimated total cash requirement to fund and operate the facility for three
years is $780,000, or $260,000 per year.

For more information on the South Carolina Cancer Tissue Bank, please contact Phillip Buckhaults,
Ph.D., at (803) 434-1333. If you would like to make a gift to support this program, please call the Office
of Joint Development at (803) 733-3208 or e-mail usc-phdev@med.sc.edu.

WHAT IF ... researchers could identify genes controlling cancer growth and metastasis?
WHAT IF ... the information we gained from a statewide cancer tissue bank led to the development of new cancer-fighting drugs and better diagnostic tests?
WHAT IF ... we could create a comprehensive database with critical information on cancers that affect South Carolinians?

WHAT IF ... AT THE USC SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND PALMETTO HEALTH, WE ARE MAKING
“WHAT IF?” WHAT IS!

Working together to improve health care through research and education