BACKGROUND: Snap freezing and RNAlater stabilization are methods that were wildly used in biospecimen depositories to preserve cancer tissues. Both methods have its own limitations. An ideal method for preservation of diseased tissues should permit the broader uses of stored
tissue samples, including not just for molecular diagnostic analysis, histopathological evaluation, but also for the recovery of functional live cells and tissues as well as the regeneration of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models for the drug screening study. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
This study investigated molecular and pathological evaluation of cryopreserved colorectal cancer tissues, with an emphasis on effects of freezing method and cryoprotection. Global gene expression analysis with microarrays and histological examination of tissue samples were performed to compare
tissue specimens after snap freezing, cryoprotectant permeation and subsequent cryopreservation. RESULTS: Compared with the fresh tissue samples (immediately stabilized in RNAlater after collection), samples preserved by snap freezing exhibited the largest number of differentially-expressed
genes. Some genes relate to neuron, drug addiction and drug binding, but the rest of differentially-expressed genes were functionally dispersive. Cryoprotectant permeation into tissue samples and subsequent cryopreservation via a rate-controlled freezing resulted in much less differentially
expressed genes. Histological structures of tissue specimens were both well preserved by snap freezing and cryoproservation. CONCLUSION: Snap freezing may not be as reliable as commonly considered. The pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of using cryopreservation to retain viable
diseased tissues for multiple applications.
No Reference information available - sign in for access.
No Citation information available - sign in for access.
No Supplementary Data.
No Article Media
No Metrics
Keywords:
CRYOPRESERVATION;
DEPOSITORY;
HISTOPATHOLOGY;
MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS;
SNAP FREEZING
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date:
01 July 2017
More about this publication?
CryoLetters is a bimonthly international journal for low temperature sciences, including cryobiology, cryopreservation or vitrification of cells and tissues, chemical and physical aspects of freezing and drying, and studies involving ecology of cold environments, and cold adaptation
The journal publishes original research reports, authoritative reviews, technical developments and commissioned book reviews of studies of the effects produced by low temperatures on a wide variety of scientific and technical processes, or those involving low temperature techniques in the investigation of physical, chemical, biological and ecological problems.