A Novel Technique for Biobanking of Large Sections of Radical Prostatectomy Specimens

Abstract

Aims

Harvesting of unfixed tissue from radical prostatectomy specimens for research purposes is challenging. Many prostate cancers cannot be identified at gross inspection and this tumour is notoriously multifocal and heterogeneous. We aimed to develop a technique to allow detailed topographic analysis and the sampling of sufficient amount of tumour without jeopardizing clinical reporting.

Methods and Results

A custom-made double-bladed knife was utilized for cutting a 4 mm thick horizontal section of the prostate. The slices were split into segments that were frozen in gel, cryosections were cut and RNA integrity numbers (RIN) analysed. Sections were cut from all blocks of 20 cases and the cutting time monitored. Slides were scanned and the slices digitally reconstructed. Cutting frozen sections of an entire slice took 79 – 253 minutes (mean 162 minutes). Tumour was detected in frozen sections of 85% (17/20) of cases and in 46% (72/155) of blocks. The morphological quality was determined to be excellent and RIN values high (mean 8.9).

Conclusions

This novel protocol for biobanking of fresh tissue from prostatectomy specimens provides sufficient tumour material for research purposes, while also enabling reporting of histopathology. The harvesting of a full tissue slice facilitates studies of tumour multifocality and heterogeneity.

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