Identification of MEN1 mutations in sporadic enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors by analysis of paraffin-embedded tissue

Gastrinomas and other gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors may occur spor adically or as part of the inherited syndrome multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). Mutations in the recently identified MEN1 gene have been des cribed in sporadic gastrinomas and insulinomas. This study describes techni ques used to identify mutations in the MEN1 gene in DNA extracted from para ffin-preserved tissue. Two novel mutations are identified in the MEN1 gene from nine archived paraffin-embedded neuroendocrine tumors, demonstrating t hat retrospective genetic analysis can be used to identify mutations in the MEN1: gene from preserved tissue. Conditions are provided by which paraffi n-embedded tissue can be used as a source of genetic material for sequence information of sufficient quality for mutational studies of the MEN1 gene. It should also be possible to apply this retrospective genetic analysis of paraffin-embedded tissue to other disease models.