Assessing the suitability of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue for genome-wide association studies (GWAS)

This study evaluates the feasibility of conducting genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using DNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue. Genotyping results from paired FFPE and blood samples were compared using both microarray technology and low-coverage whole-genome sequencing (lcWGS). The analysis demonstrated high concordance between FFPE- and blood-derived genotypes. Although both platforms performed well, microarrays achieved significantly higher recall and precision and currently offer greater cost-effectiveness and computational efficiency. These findings support the suitability of FFPE-derived DNA for GWAS, with microarrays representing the preferred approach at present. However, the broader variant detection enabled by lcWGS may represent an additional advantage to be explored in future studies, particularly in diverse populations.

• Type: Other
• Archiver: European Genome-Phenome Archive (EGA)