Identifying Tumor Specimens Using DNA Analysis
Author Information
Author(s): Anupuma Raina, Bhuvnesh Yadav, Ali Sher, Tirath Das Dogra
Primary Institution: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
Hypothesis
Was there a mix-up or error in the histopathological examination of a breast cancer patient's tissue sample?
Conclusion
DNA fingerprinting confirmed that the absence of tumor in the post-surgical tissue was due to a technical error in examination, not a sample mix-up.
Supporting Evidence
- The patient was initially diagnosed with breast cancer based on clinical evidence.
- Histopathological examination showed no residual tumor, raising concerns of a mix-up.
- DNA analysis provided partial profiles from the paraffin blocks, confirming the correct labeling.
Takeaway
The study shows that DNA testing can help figure out if a tissue sample was mixed up or if there was a mistake in examining it.
Methodology
DNA was extracted from the patient's blood and two paraffin blocks, followed by PCR amplification and analysis of STR loci.
Limitations
The study was limited by the inability to re-examine the discarded post-surgical tissue.
Participant Demographics
One 45-year-old woman diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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