SEQUENCE-ANALYSIS OF PCR-AMPLIFICATIONS I N FORMALIN-FIXED PARAFFIN-EMBEDDED TISSUES

Objective: Standard analytical techniques (DNA hybridisation methods) require high-quality DNA. In very small samples and in processed tissu e (e. g. analysis of DNA in paraffin-embedded archival tissues) these methods fail due to their restricted sensitivity. Methods: In this stu dy we used the considerably more sensitive PCR for analysis of HPV-16- e6/-e7 DNA in histologic cone biopsy sections. HPV-16-e6 and -e7 ORF w ere amplified, subcloned into M13mp18 and sequenced. Results: The sequ ence is identical to the published e6/e7 sequence. Conclusions: Due to its high sensitivity the PCR is suitable to give answers to questions in cellular microbiology even in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tis sues.