Molecular Pathology and Pre-Analytic Variables: Impact on Clinical Practice From a Breast Pathology Perspective

AbstractPurpose of ReviewCancer therapy is increasingly becoming dependent on the ability to target specific molecular pathways that drive disease progression. Consequently, the identification of specific molecular pathways requires the use of companion diagnostic assays that are accurate and reproducible. This review will discuss the data and concerns surrounding pre-analytic variables in the evaluation of breast cancer tissue.Recent FindingsAlthough ASCO/CAP guidelines offer recommendations for the collection and preservation of diagnostic clinical tissues, standard clinical practice has paid little attention to the suitability of these tissues for further molecular analysis. Current research suggests that alterations in the molecular integrity of tissue during the pre-analytic stage may result in inaccurate results and potentially sub-standard patient care.SummaryThreshold recommendations for optimal molecular analyses associated with pre-analytic variables are limited. Future recommendations regarding pre-analytic variables and molecular diagnostics of breast cancer tissue will require additional research on the effects of pre-fixation, fixation, processing, and storage on nucleic acid integrity, comparing fixed material with fresh and/or frozen controls.
Source: Current Pathobiology Reports - Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research