3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy) is a commonly consumed recreational drug. As is the case with most secondary amines, MDMA reacts with formaldehyde under acidic conditions to form tertiary amines. This reaction is likely to occur in formalin-fixed tissue. In formalin solutions, MDMA is methylated producing 3,4-methylenedioxy-N,N-dimethylamphetamine (MDDA). MDDA standard was s...

Several DNA extraction methods have been used for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, with variable results being reported regarding the suitability of DNA obtained from such sources to serve as template in polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based genetic analyses. We present a method routinely used for archival material in our laboratory that reliably yields DNA of sufficient quality for P...

Proteomic analysis of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue would enable retrospective biomarker investigations of this vast archive of pathologically characterized clinical samples that exist worldwide. These FFPE tissues are, however, refractory to proteomic investigations utilizing many state of the art methodologies largely due to the high level of covalently cross-linked proteins ...

Biofluid detectable biomarkers that originate at the site of diseased tissues would be advantageous, in that, they may provide mechanistic information concerning the manifestation and progression of the disease. Unfortunately, tissue biopsies are precious samples that can generally be acquired in small amounts due to the invasive nature of the sample collection. One of the foundations of pathol...

Preserved clinical material is a unique source for proteomic investigation of human disorders. Here we describe an optimized protocol allowing large scale quantitative analysis of formalin fixed and paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue. The procedure comprises four distinct steps. The first one is the preparation of sections from the FFPE material and microdissection of cells of interest. In the sec...

Proteomic analysis of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue would enable retrospective biomarker investigations of this vast archive of pathologically characterized clinical samples that exist worldwide. These FFPE tissues are, however, refractory to proteomic investigations utilizing many state of the art methodologies largely due to the high level of covalently cross-linked proteins ...