Posts Tagged 'tumor tissue'

The Process of Biospecimen Procurement – A Modern Step-by-Step Guide

Biospecimens have been essential in biomarker discovery as far back as the 1980s. Biospecimen procurement is the systematic process of acquiring, storing, and managing biosamples for research for the advancement of personalized medicine and drug development, as shown in Figure 1. However, despite its importance, the process of biobanking, particularly prospective biospecimen collection, has been…

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Significance of FFPE Tissue Samples in Preventive Genomics and Precision Medicine

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues can play a transformative role in preventive genomics and precision medicine. Analysis of DNA and RNA are central to our understanding of disease and disease risk. With FFPE tissues, these biomolecules (and other essential characteristics) are available for scientists to study. The longevity of FFPE tissue samples and their long history…

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Advancing Biospecimen Procurement with Cutting-edge Technologies

Imagine a world where diseases can be prevented before they even occur, where medications are tailored specifically to each individual’s genetic makeup, and where new drugs are developed at an unprecedented rate. This future is quickly becoming a reality due to the rapid evolution in technologies the field of biospecimen procurement has witnessed over the…

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Standardized Preanalytical Coding (SPREC) in Tissue Biobanking

Tissue biobanking involves the collection, processing, storage, and study of biospecimens, such as human biofluids and solid tissue samples1. High biospecimen quality and collection of relevant patient data allow researchers and clinicians to tailor a personalized treatment for a given patient. Furthermore, biobanking allows researchers to assess differences by race and ethnicity for the patient…

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Cancer Statistics, History of Blood Cancer, and the Role of Biobanking

Introduction According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer accounted for nearly 10 million deaths worldwide in 2020 alone.1 This devastating disease can affect any part of the body, occurring when abnormal cells become dysregulated and begin to grow and spread uncontrollably. However, to fully recognize its burden and succeed in cancer research, we must…

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How Biomarker Discovery and Validation Supports Targeted Cancer Therapies

Biomarkers are essential tools in oncology research, allowing for early detection, diagnosis, and personalized cancer treatment.1 For this reason, driving innovation in biomarker discovery and validation is critical for developing targeted therapies to improve clinical outcomes. Here, we discuss the concept of biomarkers in the field of oncology and why they have been indispensable to the…

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Targeting the TME and Its Role in Cancer Development and Drug Resistance

  The Tumor Microenvironment (TME) is the complex, heterogeneous cellular environment surrounding a tumor. The TME contains immune and inflammatory cells, blood vessels, fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, extracellular matrix (ECM), and a vast array of signaling molecules 1. The dynamic interactions between tumor cells and the TME largely determine whether the primary tumor metastasizes (develops secondary…

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FFPE or Frozen Tissue – How to Choose Between Their Pros and Cons?

FFPE or frozen tissue have a list of advantages and limitations to be considered to reply to the downstream analytical purposes of your solid tissue biospecimen collection.

  FFPE or frozen tissue is a very common question during the initial design of a solid tissue collection project. Preserved human solid tissue comes in two forms – Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) or snap-frozen. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, and choosing one over the other depends on the study’s needs and methodology. Here,…

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