Analysis of the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue proteome: pitfalls, challenges, and future prospectives

Amino Acids. 2013 Aug;45(2):205-18. doi: 10.1007/s00726-013-1494-0. Epub 2013 Apr 17.

Abstract

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues are a real treasure for retrospective analysis considering the amount of samples present in hospital archives, combined with pathological, clinical, and outcome information available for every sample. Although unlocking the proteome of these tissues is still a challenge, new approaches are being developed. In this review, we summarize the different mass spectrometry platforms that are used in human clinical studies to unravel the FFPE proteome. The different ways of extracting crosslinked proteins and the analytical strategies are pointed out. Also, the pitfalls and challenges concerning the quality of FFPE proteomic approaches are depicted. We also evaluated the potential of these analytical methods for future clinical FFPE proteomics applications.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Fixatives
  • Formaldehyde
  • Humans
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Paraffin Embedding
  • Proteins / analysis*
  • Proteome / analysis*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tissue Fixation
  • Tissue Preservation / methods*

Substances

  • Fixatives
  • Proteins
  • Proteome
  • Formaldehyde