A new technology for stabilization of biomolecules in tissues for combined histological and molecular analyses

J Mol Diagn. 2012 Sep;14(5):458-66. doi: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2012.05.002. Epub 2012 Jun 28.

Abstract

For accurate diagnosis, prediction of outcome, and selection of appropriate therapies, the molecular characterization of human diseases requires analysis of a broad spectrum of altered biomolecules, in addition to morphological features, in affected tissues such as tumors. In a high-throughput screening approach, we have developed the PAXgene Tissue System as a novel tissue stabilization technology. Comprehensive characterization of this technology in stabilized and paraffin-embedded human tissues and comparison with snap-frozen tissues revealed excellent preservation of morphology and antigenicity, as well as outstanding integrity of nucleic acids (genomic DNA, miRNA, and mRNA) and phosphoproteins. Importantly, PAXgene-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues provided RNA quantity and quality not only significantly better than that obtained with neutral buffered formalin, but also similar to that from snap-frozen tissue, which currently represents the gold standard for molecular analyses. The PAXgene tissue stabilization system thus opens new opportunities in a variety of molecular diagnostic and research applications in which the collection of snap-frozen tissue is not feasible for medical, logistic, or ethical reasons. Furthermore, this technology allows performing histopathological analyses together with molecular studies in a single sample, which markedly facilitates direct correlation of morphological disease phenotypes with alterations of nucleic acids and other biomolecules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Nucleic Acids / metabolism
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Specimen Handling / methods*
  • Tissue Preservation / methods*

Substances

  • Nucleic Acids
  • Proteins