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Expanding the Comprehension of the Tumor Microenvironment using Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Formalin-Fixed and Paraffin-Embedded Tissue Samples
Published on: June 29, 2022
Metabolomic profiling from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue using targeted LC/MS/MS: application in
Andrew D Kelly1, Susanne B Breitkopf, Min Yuan
1Division of Hematology/Oncology, Sarcoma Program, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Plos One
|October 11, 2011
Summary
Onco-metabolomics can now analyze formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissues. This study shows reliable metabolomic data can be extracted from FFPE soft tissue sarcomas for cancer research.
Area of Science:
- Metabolomics
- Cancer Research
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Onco-metabolomics investigates cancer phenotypes and metabolite content.
- Previous studies analyzed urine and serum, but direct tumor tissue analysis is crucial.
- Reliable metabolomic data from archival specimens was previously unreported.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the feasibility of analyzing polar metabolites from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens.
- To assess the reliability and informativeness of metabolomic data from FFPE tissues.
- To explore the potential of FFPE samples for onco-metabolomics research.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of polar metabolites from ten FFPE soft tissue sarcoma specimens (five tumors, five paired normals).
- Targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) using selected reaction monitoring (SRM).
- Unsupervised (hierarchical clustering, principal components analysis) and supervised analyses were performed.
Main Results:
- An average of 106 metabolites were detected per sample with high reproducibility.
- Clustering analyses successfully distinguished tumor from normal tissue phenotypes.
- Candidate metabolic markers were identified, and diverse biochemical processes were represented.
Conclusions:
- Reliable and informative metabolomic data can be acquired from FFPE soft tissue sarcoma specimens.
- This methodology holds promise for extending onco-metabolomics to other malignancies.
- FFPE samples are a viable resource for retrospective cancer metabolomics studies.
