Predictive and prognostic markers of breast cancer. Molecular biological analysis of fixed tumor tissue

• Published in: Der Pathologe Vol. 29 Suppl 2; pp. 181 - 183
• Main Authors: Petry, C, Gehrmann, M, von Törne, C, Weber, K, Stropp, U, Hennig, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01.11.2008
• Subjects: Algorithms; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Breast - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - genetics; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; DNA, Neoplasm - genetics; Equipment Design; Female; Fixatives; Formaldehyde; Gene Expression Profiling; Humans; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - genetics; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - pathology; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis - instrumentation; Paraffin Embedding; Prognosis; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction - instrumentation; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Robotics - instrumentation; Tissue Array Analysis - instrumentation
• ISSN: 1432-1963
• DOI: 10.1007/s00292-008-1081-4

A multitude of prognostic and predictive multiparameter algorithms based on the analysis of mRNA have been published in recent years. Many of the algorithms require fresh or fresh frozen tissue as a source of the mRNA. However, practical considerations suggest formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPE tissue) to be a more suitable starting material for routine diagnostic applications. Therefore, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics is developing a fully automated method to extract mRNA and DNA from FFPE tissue for use in pathology laboratories. Initially, the method will be used as part of a prognosis assay to predict the likelihood of distant metastasis and death for node-negative breast cancer patients.