[Optimal tissue quantity for molecular ancillary studies in multicenter clinical trials in gynecological oncology:...

The national investigators group for ovarian and breast cancer studies (GINECO) is an academic clinical research group specialized in gynecological oncology. Within the translational research group, the pathologists have several roles, including qualifying samples from patients included in clinical trials (tumor surface and cellularity). Since 2015, several clinical trials have required the qualification of tissue material, leading to a substantial database gathering tumor surface and cellularity associated with the concentration and quantity of DNA/RNA extracted. The main objective of this study was to investigate variations in nucleic acid concentration and quantity depending on the tumor cellularity and surface, using 1734 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens from several GINECO clinical trials. The quantities of DNA and RNA extracted appeared to correlate well with tumor surface. The amount of RNA extracted also appeared to correlate with tumor cellularity. An optimal DNA concentration (>50ng/μL) was achieved with a tumor surface of at least 51-100mm² and a tumor cellularity of at least 20%. An optimal RNA concentration (>100ng/μL) was obtained with a tumor surface of at least 26-50mm² and a tumor cellularity of at least 51%. These data underline the importance of sending FFPE material with the highest tumor surface and cellularity when including patients in clinical trials. Inclusion in clinical trials enables patients to benefit from innovative therapeutic management.