Objective: To establish a method of extracting DNA from the paraffin-embedded epidermal tissue and examine the amplification of beta-catenin gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.
Methods: Exon 3 of the beta-catenin gene was amplified by PCR in 14 paraffin-embedded Bowen's disease (BD) of various weight and years.
Results: The amplification of exon 3 of beta-catenin gene was successful in all the 10 mg and 20 mg samples, but not in the 5 mg samples. The amplification of exon 3 of beta-catenin gene was successful in 9 samples embedded within 10 years, and in only 2 of the 5 samples embedded more than 10 years.
Conclusion: Epidermal tissue whose weight is 10 mg or more within 10 years of embedding can be used in the amplification of purpose gene by PCR.