Abstract 1377: Impact of biospecimen pre-analytical factors on molecular analysis
Authors: Agarwal Rachana , Guan Ping , Barcus Mary , Bavarva Jasmin , Burges Robin , Branton Philip , Carithers Latarsha , Camalier Corinne , Das Biswajit , Lih Jason , Odeh Hana , Roche Nancy , Rohrer Dan , Sachs Michael , Sobin Leslie , Scott Jewell , Smith Anna , Soria Conrado , Valentino Kimberly , Valley Dana , Williams Mickey , Moore Helen 
Published: July 2016

The Biospecimen Pre-analytical Variables (BPV) Program of the Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research Branch (BBRB) at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is designed to systematically investigate the effects of preanalytical factors on the molecular integrity of biospecimens. Specific parameters related to formalin fixation and paraffin embedding (FFPE) of cancer tissues were examined, including the effects of cold ischemic time (delay to fixation (DTF)) and time in fixative (TIF). Additional preanalytical studies focus on snap freezing method for tissue specimens (dry Ice vs. LN2 vapor), storage temperature (-80°C vs. LN2 vapor), and duration of storage for frozen specimens.

Biospecimens for the BPV program were collected at four medical centers, within a tightly regulated infrastructure and strict adherence to SOPs, to enable consistent collection and handling across all sites. Biospecimens were collected from research participants undergoing surgical treatment for renal cell carcinoma; ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal carcinoma; lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma; and colorectal adenocarcinoma. Biospecimens were subjected to specific experimental protocols to systematically vary the preanalytical factors of interest. Extensive annotation was performed with 300+ data elements that include steps in the collection, handling, and processing of the biospecimens, pathological evaluation of the tumor, and clinical information collected from donors. Biospecimen collections concluded in April 2015 with a total of 364 tumor tissue cases collected.

The BPV program has conducted multiple, simultaneous molecular analyses to understand the impact of FFPE preanalytical factors on the expression and detection of various molecular analytes. Initial efforts were focused on evaluating the impact of DTF and TIF on the quality of DNA and RNA from FFPE samples using multiple methods and approaches such as NanoDrop 8000 UV-Vis spectrophotometer, Qubit 2.0 Fluorometer, Agilent Bioanalyzer and KAPA Human Genomic DNA Quantification.

The QC data from both RIN and Kappa assays showed that FFPE samples have a significant drop in RNA and DNA quality compared with matched frozen samples. 72 hr TIF samples showed a significant drop in both RNA and DNA quality compared to shorter time points (6, 12, or 23 hr TIF), as measured by DV200 and Kappa assays. No significant differences were observed in RNA/DNA quality between the shorter TIF time points or between the DTF time points (1, 2, 3, 12 hr DTF).

Further studies are now underway to evaluate additional preanalytical factors. The data from BPV studies will be widely shared with the research community through publication and deposition at a public data repository. The results from these studies will be used to develop evidence-based protocols and best practices for fit-for-purpose collection, processing, and storage of biospecimens.

This project is funded by NCI Contract No. HHSN261200800001E.

Citation Format: Rachana Agarwal, Ping Guan, Mary Barcus, Jasmin Bavarva, Robin Burges, Philip Branton, Latarsha Carithers, Corinne Camalier, Biswajit Das, Jason Lih, Hana Odeh, Nancy Roche, Dan Rohrer, Michael Sachs, Leslie Sobin, Jewell Scott, Anna Smith, Conrado Soria, Kimberly Valentino, Dana Valley, Mickey Williams, Helen Moore. Impact of biospecimen pre-analytical factors on molecular analysis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1377.