Expression profiling with RNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material.

"Competing interests The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests."

"AcknowledgementsThe authors thank Dr. R. Haener, University of Bern for helpful suggestions on formalin-induced modification of RNA, Drs. M. Müller, C. Meier and A. Günthert for providing tumors for the tumorbank, Drs. A. Fleischmann and H. Burger for providing FFPE tumor material, and Dr. M. Schobesberger for critical reading of the manuscript. This work was supported by the Swiss Cancer League (to RJ and MD), the NCCR "Molecular Oncology" (to MD), the Bernese Cancer League and Applied Biosystems, Rotkreuz Switzerland (to RJ). Kryo-preserved material was provided by the Tumorbank Bern. The Tumorbank Bern is sponsored by the Department of Clinical Research, the Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, and the Bernese Cancer League. Informed consent was provided from the patients for all the samples used in this study."