Effect of Conventional and Microwave Tissue Processing Technique on DNA Integrity: A Comparative Molecular Analysis.

Background: Methods of diagnostic molecular biology are routinely applied on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues processed via conventional method. Recently, there has been a growing interest to use microwave technology in histopathology laboratories to overcome the deficiencies of the conventional processing method. Thefore, this study was aimed to compare and analyze the quality and quantity of DNA obtained from tissues processed by conventional and microwave tissue processing techniques and to further ascertain the applicability of the latter for PCR (polymerase chain reaction based research).

Quantification of circulating plasma cell free DNA fragments in patients with oral cancer and precancer.

Purpose: Study was aimed to quantify plasma level of total, short and long fragmented cell-free DNA (cfDNA) along with DNA integrity in patients with oral cancer, oral precancer and tobacco users without lesions and normal controls. In addition, study evaluated the correlation of cfDNA with clinicopathologic parameters of oral cancer.

Methodology: Plasma samples were collected preoperatively from 44 patients with oral cancer, 40 patients with oral precancer, 40 tobacco users without any oral lesion and 40 healthy controls without any tobacco habit.