New Method Enables Analysis of Preserved Cancer Specimens With Exome Sequencing

The specific causes of cancer progression have long baffled scientists and physicians. Repositories are filled with historical tumor samples collected from patients over the years that might hold the answers. Unfortunately, while the process used to preserve tumor samples is successful in saving them for decades, it often introduces DNA analysis challenges. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor samples usually contain degraded DNA, which is difficult to amplify for next-generation sequencing (NGS).