Fixation methods for the preservation of morphology, RNAs, and proteins in paraffin-embedded human cervical cancer cell xenografts in mice.

After various types of fixation, paraffin-embedded tissues are commonly used for histological analysis and pathological diagnosis; they are also suitable for long-term storage. Neutral buffered formalin, paraformaldehyde, and ethanol are common fixatives for histopathological analysis. For molecular biological analysis, fixed paraffin-embedded tissues are valuable resources; suitable fixative solutions and methods are needed to quantify and perform molecular biological analyses including immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Currently, 4 % paraformaldehyde is the recommended fixative for the preservation of RNAs and proteins, as well as for morphological study in paraffin-embedded human cervical cancer tissues that were xenografted in immunodeficient mice. Here, we describe the method for the fixation and preparation of paraffin-embedded tissue specimens for analysis of RNAs, proteins, and morphology.