NEW YORK – Biospecimen procurement firm iSpecimen said on Wednesday that it has partnered with Genewiz from Azenta Life Sciences on a program to provide researchers with access to mutation-characterized formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cancer tumor tissues.
The program will initially offer mutation-characterized samples for lung, colon, and breast cancers. Genewiz will conduct the cancer panel sequencing and mutational analyses of the FFPE tissue samples offering on iSpecimen's platform. Samples will be sequenced on the AmpliSeq for Illumina Comprehensive Cancer Panel v3, which screens for mutations in 161 genes. The samples will also include genetic, demographic, and histopathological data.
The firm is building out the sequenced FFPE tissue program through its provider network and sequencing partners. The company will make annotated, de-identified FFPE tissue available for researchers to request on its iSpecimen Marketplace.
In the future, iSpecimen plans to offer FFPE samples for other cancers, including pancreatic, renal, brain, ovarian, gastric, melanoma, bladder, and prostate. The company also plans to eventually offer serum, plasma, flash frozen tissue, viably frozen tissue, and dissociated tumor cells through this program.