Variation in reference cells for DNA analysis of paraffin-embedded tissue

Selection of the diploid reference cells used in flow cytometric DNA analysis of paraffin-embedded tissue is inconsistent in the literature. To determine which types of cells were most suitable for use as reference cells, benign paraffin-embedded tissue was evaluated from nine randomly selected autopsies. Benign kidney, lymph node, gastrointestinal mucosa, laryngeal mucosa, bronchial mucosa, bladder mucosa, pancreas, and, when available, prostate tissue were studied. Ten paraffin-embedded surgical specimens also were studied. In the autopsy specimens, great variability in the mean peak channels was noted on intrapatient evaluation and even more variability was present when comparing similar organs (especially lymph nodes) from different patients. Similar results were obtained using lymph nodes from surgical specimens. It is concluded that the most suitable diploid reference cells for DNA analysis of paraffin-embedded tissue are the benign cells present in the paraffin tumor block that have been processed in the same way as the tumor cells.