# Feasibility of amino acid profiling in long-term stored formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded colorectal neoplasia tissue

## TL;DR

This study shows that amino acid profiling can be done on long-stored formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue, which is commonly available for colorectal cancer research.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the feasibility of amino acid profiling in FFPE tissue, which is more accessible than fresh frozen samples.

## Key findings

- Fourteen amino acids were successfully detected in FFPE tissue.
- Proline levels were significantly higher in colorectal carcinoma compared to both advanced and non-advanced adenomas.
- Amino acid profiling in FFPE tissue is feasible despite analytical challenges.

## Abstract

Metabolic processes play a role in cancer development, with faecal amino acids emerging as potential biomarkers for colorectal neoplasia. While fresh frozen tissue is preferred for metabolomic analysis, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue is more widely available.

We aimed to evaluate amino acid profiles in FFPE tissue across different stages of the adenoma-carcinoma sequence.

A panel of 20 amino acids was measured using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry.

Fourteen amino acids were detected, with proline elevated in colorectal carcinoma versus advanced (FC 2.33, p = 0.04) and non-advanced adenomas (FC 2.42, p = 0.02).

Despite analytical challenges, amino acid profiling in FFPE tissue is feasible.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11306-025-02301-8.