Comparison of miRNA expression patterns using total RNA extracted from matched samples of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cells and snap frozen cells

Abstract

We hypothesise that methylol cross-links between RNA and protein which occur during tissue processing inhibit the yield of total RNA. However, small RNA molecules appear to be less affected by this process and are recovered more easily in the extraction process. In general miRNAs demonstrated reliable expression levels in FFPE compared with snap frozen paired samples, suggesting these molecules might prove to be robust targets amenable to detection in archival material in the molecular pathology setting.