Microarray analysis of suppression subtracted hybridisation libraries identifies genes associated with breast cancer progression.

Background: A major challenge of cancer research is to identify key molecules which are responsible for the development of the malignant metastatic phenotype, the major cause of cancer death.

Methods: Four subtracted cDNA libraries were constructed representing mRNAs differentially expressed between benign and malignant human breast tumour cells and between micro-dissected breast carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma. Hundreds of differentially expressed cDNAs from the libraries were micro-arrayed and screened with mRNAs from human breast tumor cell lines and clinical specimens.

Molecular analysis of a collection of clinical specimens stored at 4 degrees C as an alternative to snap-freezing.

It is critical for both basic and clinical translational cancer research to use high quality DNA, RNA and proteins from specimens with clinical outcome in order to validate novel diagnostic biomarkers and to monitor successful treatments for patients. However, using current standard procedures, the collection of specimens is often limited by the availability of liquid nitrogen in some hospitals and liquid nitrogen can be hazardous to transport. These problems would be eased if the tissue could be stored unfixed at 4 degrees C, conditions that are readily available in hospitals.