Gene Analysis Service to Benefit Cancer Researchers

A gene scanning service has been established that will allow cancer researchers to obtain high-quality allele-specific copy number data from difficult to manipulate formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples.

The new MIP Copy Number Service is available for research use only exclusively through the Affymetrix (Santa Clara, CA, USA) Research Services Laboratory (ARSL). Investigators using this service will be able to analyze DNA from FFPE samples, which are often of insufficient quantity and too degraded for many array platforms, without having to invest in new equipment or manpower. In addition to absolute copy number data, ARSL provides individual allele copy-number information, which can be used to detect copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity (LOH), infer contamination of tumor sample with normal tissue, and examine preferential allele amplification. Typical comparative genomic hybridization techniques do not offer this level of information.

"Cancer researchers are unlocking the full potential of millions of archived FFPE samples using MIP copy number technology,” said Kevin King, CEO of Affymetrix. "Leading cancer researchers can now link copy number data with clinical data from these archived resources. This is the tremendous advantage of the MIP [molecular inversion probe] assay and will help researchers yield discoveries that could ultimately improve cancer diagnosis and categorization of patients, and thus lead to more targeted and individualized strategies for the treatment of cancer.”

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