B Paige Bass1, Kelly B Engel, Sarah R Greytak, Helen M Moore. 1. From the Kelly Government Solutions Program, Kelly Services, Rockville (Drs Bass and Greytak), and the Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research Branch, Cancer Diagnosis Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda (Dr Moore), Maryland; and the Preferred Solutions Group, Arlington, Virginia (Dr Engel).
Abstract
CONTEXT: Formalin fixation and paraffin embedding is a timeless, cost-efficient, and widely adopted method of preserving human tissue biospecimens that has resulted in a substantial reservoir of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks that represent both the pathology and preanalytical handling of the biospecimen. This reservoir of specimens is increasingly being used for DNA, RNA, and proteomic analyses. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of preanalytical factors associated with the formalin fixation and paraffin embedding process on downstream morphological and molecular endpoints. DATA SOURCES: We surveyed the existing literature using the National Cancer Institute's Biospecimen Research Database for published reports investigating the potential influence of preanalytical factors associated with the formalin fixation and paraffin embedding process on DNA, RNA, protein, and morphological endpoints. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the literature evidence, the molecular, proteomic, and morphological endpoints can be altered in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens by suboptimal processing conditions. While the direction and magnitude of effects associated with a given preanalytical factor were dependent on the analyte (DNA, RNA, protein, and morphology) and analytical platform, acceptable conditions are highlighted, and a summary of conditions that could preclude analysis is provided.
CONTEXT: Formalin fixation and paraffin embedding is a timeless, cost-efficient, and widely adopted method of preserving human tissue biospecimens that has resulted in a substantial reservoir of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks that represent both the pathology and preanalytical handling of the biospecimen. This reservoir of specimens is increasingly being used for DNA, RNA, and proteomic analyses. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of preanalytical factors associated with the formalin fixation and paraffin embedding process on downstream morphological and molecular endpoints. DATA SOURCES: We surveyed the existing literature using the National Cancer Institute's Biospecimen Research Database for published reports investigating the potential influence of preanalytical factors associated with the formalin fixation and paraffin embedding process on DNA, RNA, protein, and morphological endpoints. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the literature evidence, the molecular, proteomic, and morphological endpoints can be altered in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens by suboptimal processing conditions. While the direction and magnitude of effects associated with a given preanalytical factor were dependent on the analyte (DNA, RNA, protein, and morphology) and analytical platform, acceptable conditions are highlighted, and a summary of conditions that could preclude analysis is provided.
Authors: Daniel L Hertz; Kelley M Kidwell; Jacklyn N Thibert; Christina Gersch; Meredith M Regan; Todd C Skaar; N Lynn Henry; Daniel F Hayes; Catherine H Van Poznak; James M Rae Journal: Mol Oncol Date: 2015-07-29 Impact factor: 6.603
Authors: Sarah R Greytak; Kelly B Engel; Erik Zmuda; Esmeralda Casas-Silva; Ping Guan; Katherine A Hoadley; Andrew J Mungall; David A Wheeler; Harsha V Doddapaneni; Helen M Moore Journal: Biopreserv Biobank Date: 2018-06-19 Impact factor: 2.300