MicroRNA-Profiling in Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Specimens

The discovery of small regulatory RNA molecules during the last few years has changed our understanding of many biological and pathological processes. The most prominent and best analyzed class of these small regulatory noncoding RNAs is comprised by the microRNAs. The analysis of microRNA expression patterns is now widely used in biology and pathology employing a range of methodologies. However, many precious human tissue samples are only available as formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimen. In this chapter, the extraction of RNA from FFPE samples and the subsequent microRNA profiling utilizing fluorescence-labeled bead technology from Luminex Inc. is described.