Journal of Translational Medicine (Jul 2011)

Biobanking after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy: a quality assessment of providing prostate tissue for RNA studies

  • Park Kyung,
  • Esqueva Raquel,
  • Kitabayashi Naoki,
  • Kim Robert,
  • Leung Robert,
  • Grover Sonal,
  • Srivastava Abhishek,
  • Sooriakumaran Prasanna,
  • Rickman David,
  • Dev Harveer,
  • Padilla Jessica,
  • Rubin Mark,
  • Tewari Ashutosh

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5876-9-121
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
p. 121

Abstract

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Abstract Background RNA quality is believed to decrease with ischaemia time, and therefore open radical prostatectomy has been advantageous in allowing the retrieval of the prostate immediately after its devascularization. In contrast, robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomies (RALP) require the completion of several operative steps before the devascularized prostate can be extirpated, casting doubt on the validity of this technique as a source for obtaining prostatic tissue. We seek to establish the integrity of our biobanking process by measuring the RNA quality of specimens derived from robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Methods We describe our biobanking process and report the RNA quality of prostate specimens using advanced electrophoretic techniques (RNA Integrity Numbers, RIN). Using multivariate regression analysis we consider the impact of various clinicopathological correlates on RNA integrity. Results Our biobanking process has been used to acquire 1709 prostates, and allows us to retain approximately 40% of the prostate specimen, without compromising the histopathological evaluation of patients. We collected 186 samples from 142 biobanked prostates, and demonstrated a mean RIN of 7.25 (standard deviation 1.64) in 139 non-stromal samples, 73% of which had a RIN ≥ 7. Multivariate regression analysis revealed cell type - stromal/epithelial and benign/malignant - and prostate volume to be significant predictors of RIN, with unstandardized coefficients of 0.867(p = 0.001), 1.738(p Conclusions We demonstrate the robustness of our protocol - representing the concerted efforts of dedicated urology and pathology departments - in generating RNA of sufficient concentration and quality, without compromising the histopathological evaluation and diagnosis of patients. The ischaemia time associated with our prostatectomy technique using a robotic platform does not negatively impact on biobanking for RNA studies.

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