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Updated: Mar 12, 2026

Integration of Wet and Dry Bench Processes Optimizes Targeted Next-generation Sequencing of Low-quality and Low-quantity Tumor Biopsies
Published on: April 11, 2016
Copy number analysis by low coverage whole genome sequencing using ultra low-input DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin
Tanjina Kader1,2, David L Goode2,3, Stephen Q Wong4
1Cancer Genetics Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan St, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Abstract:
Unlocking clinically translatable genomic information, including copy number alterations (CNA), from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue is challenging due to low yields and degraded DNA. We describe a robust, cost-effective low-coverage whole genome sequencing (LC WGS) method for CNA detection using 5 ng of FFPE-derived DNA. CN profiles using 100 ng or 5 ng input DNA were highly concordant and comparable with molecular inversion probe (MIP) array profiles. LC WGS improved CN profiles of samples that performed poorly using MIP arrays. Our technique enables identification of driver and prognostic CNAs in archival patient samples previously deemed unsuitable for genomic analysis due to DNA limitations.

