Impact of Tissue Storage on Bioanalytical Data and Live Tissue Science
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602 USA
- 2Simmons Center for Cancer Research, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602 USA
- 3Specicare, 690 Medical Park Ln, Gainesville, GA 30501 USA
- 4School of Medicine, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602 USA
Abstract
Purpose of Review: Precision oncology increasingly depends on accurate molecular and functional characterization of tumor tissue across genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, epigenetic, and live-cell applications. This review evaluates how commonly used tissue preservation methods, including formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), fresh, flash-frozen, and cryopreserved tissue, affect downstream analytical fidelity and translational utility.
Recent Findings: Recent comparative studies demonstrate that FFPE remains effective for histopathology and a few established molecular assays but introduces nucleic acid fragmentation, crosslinking, deamination artifacts, protein modification, and loss of cellular viability. These effects can reduce sequencing efficiency, alter quantitative molecular measurements, and limit applications requiring intact proteins or viable cells. In contrast, flash-frozen and cryopreserved tissues generally provide greater molecular fidelity, while controlled-rate cryopreservation additionally preserves viable cellular populations for single-cell analysis, organoid development, functional precision medicine, tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte expansion, and CAR-T manufacturing. Emerging evidence also supports the use of cryopreserved living tumor biobanks for longitudinal and functional testing.
Summary: No single preservation method is optimal for every application. FFPE remains essential for routine pathology, whereas flash freezing is well suited for high-fidelity molecular profiling and controlled-rate cryopreservation offers the broadest compatibility with both molecular and live-cell applications. Prospective biospecimen strategies that align tissue preservation with anticipated diagnostic, molecular, functional, and therapeutic uses may improve the reliability and clinical utility of precision oncology.
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BibTeX
@article{beltran2026impact,
title = {{Impact of Tissue Storage on Bioanalytical Data and Live Tissue Science}},
author = {Erick Beltran and Ben Youngs and Luke Allen and Elliot Zinn and Bryson Leary and Emilee Goold and Andralyn McKell and Diana Nortey-Annan and Kaitlin Bailey and Lindsay Perrett and Myler Yee and DeLaney Anderson and Bridger Kearns and Hyrum Lakko and Wesley Walpole and Isaac Steveson and Alberto Trujano and Parker Romney and Ken Dixon and Jared Barrott},
journal = {Current Oncology Reports},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1007/s11912-026-01864-6},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-026-01864-6},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Impact of Tissue Storage on Bioanalytical Data and Live Tissue Science
AU - Erick Beltran
AU - Ben Youngs
AU - Luke Allen
AU - Elliot Zinn
AU - Bryson Leary
AU - Emilee Goold
AU - Andralyn McKell
AU - Diana Nortey-Annan
AU - Kaitlin Bailey
AU - Lindsay Perrett
AU - Myler Yee
AU - DeLaney Anderson
AU - Bridger Kearns
AU - Hyrum Lakko
AU - Wesley Walpole
AU - Isaac Steveson
AU - Alberto Trujano
AU - Parker Romney
AU - Ken Dixon
AU - Jared Barrott
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/05
JO - Current Oncology Reports
DO - 10.1007/s11912-026-01864-6
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-026-01864-6
AB - Purpose of Review: Precision oncology increasingly depends on accurate molecular and functional characterization of tumor tissue across genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, epigenetic, and live-cell applications. This review evaluates how commonly used tissue preservation methods, including formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), fresh, flash-frozen, and cryopreserved tissue, affect downstream analytical fidelity and translational utility. Recent Findings: Recent comparative studies demonstrate that FFPE remains effective for histopathology and a few established molecular assays but introduces nucleic acid fragmentation, crosslinking, deamination artifacts, protein modification, and loss of cellular viability. These effects can reduce sequencing efficiency, alter quantitative molecular measurements, and limit applications requiring intact proteins or viable cells. In contrast, flash-frozen and cryopreserved tissues generally provide greater molecular fidelity, while controlled-rate cryopreservation additionally preserves viable cellular populations for single-cell analysis, organoid development, functional precision medicine, tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte expansion, and CAR-T manufacturing. Emerging evidence also supports the use of cryopreserved living tumor biobanks for longitudinal and functional testing. Summary: No single preservation method is optimal for every application. FFPE remains essential for routine pathology, whereas flash freezing is well suited for high-fidelity molecular profiling and controlled-rate cryopreservation offers the broadest compatibility with both molecular and live-cell applications. Prospective biospecimen strategies that align tissue preservation with anticipated diagnostic, molecular, functional, and therapeutic uses may improve the reliability and clinical utility of precision oncology.
SN - 1523-3790
SN - 1534-6269
ER -