PCR AMPLIFICATION OF DNA OBTAINED FROM ARCHIVED HEMATOXYLIN-EOSIN-STAINED AND GIEMSA-STAINED BREAST-CANCER ASPIRATES

The study of DNA abnormalities in fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specime ns for breast cancer could be helpful in improving the capacity of dia gnosis and specially to obtain prognostic or predictive information. T he nim of the present study was to verify whether it is possible to pe rform molecular analysis in slides of breast cancer FNA specimens, pre viously stained by hematoxylineosin (H&E) and Giemsa, stored at least for 3 years. For this purpose, 10 cases of FNA obtained from breast ca ncer patients diagnosed between 1993 and 1994 in our institute were us ed Five cytologic smears were alcohol-fixed and stained with H&E. The other Jive were air-fixed and Giemsa stained. DNA was isolated from th e cytologic smears and amplified by using radioactive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) aimed at BAT-26 marker Our results demonstrate that ar chived stained smears prepared for cytologic examinations can be used for molecular analyses by using a PCR amplification method. DNA could be isolated and PCR amplified independently of the prior fixation and staining procedures. So, we conclude that the application of molecular biology techniques to the existing archival smears may become a valua ble tool to detect genetic changes in samples from breast cancer aspir ates. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1998;19:395-397. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss,Inc.