FFPA Proteomics
Proteomics studies are usually based on proteins obtained from fresh tissues, body fluids or cultured cells in vitro. However, the number of fresh or frozen tissues that can be used in longitudinal studies over many years is very limited. With the advancement of medical research, there is a growing need for proteomics research into diseases that progress slowly or malignancies that have longer times between treatment and relapse.
Most samples in hospitals or tissue sample banks are formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. The key advantage of FFPE samples is that they can be stored steadily for decades at room temperature. Billions of FFPE cancer samples have been collected and stored, and these are usually accompanied with long-term and detailed clinical follow-up information, such as clinical course, treatment response, recurrence and survival. This information is of key importance for the new classification of tumors, exploring disease mechanisms, finding new therapeutic targets and for understanding long term prognosis..
