THE INFLUENCE OF AGE OF TEMPLATE DNA-DERIVED FROM ARCHIVAL TISSUE ON THE OUTCOME OF THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

The analysis of DNA from archival tumour tissue for molecular alterati ons has been facilitated by the use of the polymerase chain reaction ( PCR). Degradation of tissue prior to fixation and the nature of the fi xative used influence successful amplification from archival tissue. A ge of the archival tissue may also be a factor. To determine if this w as so, DNA was extracted from 30 archival specimens of spleen spanning a 15 year period. Polymerase chain reaction was performed on all spec imens using primers for exon 2 (307 bp) and exon 9 (1278 bp) of the hy poxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) gene. It was not possible to show that the age of archival tissue had an influence on the capac ity to amplify exon 2 of the HPRT gene. It was not possible to amplify exon 9 of the HPRT gene from archival tissue.