The FFPE Tissue Dissociation Kit has been optimized for the gentle, rapid, and effective generation of single-cell suspensions from human formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) carcinoma sections. Thus, a high yield of single‑cells can be obtained, while preserving the important cell epitopes cytokeratin for cell analysis of carcinoma cells and vimentin for non-carcinoma cells.

Dissociated cells can be subsequently separated by flow sorting or analyzed by flow cytometry in vitro for phenotype distributions, and other genetic or proteomic studies.

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections from various tissues and species, for example, human tumor, skin, or lymph node samples, can be dissociated into single-cell suspensions by combining mechanical dissociation with enzymatic degradation of the extracellular matrix, which maintains the structural integrity of tissues. The FFPE tissue sections are deparaffinized. After a defixation step, samples are dissociated using the kit components and the gentleMACS™ Dissociator with Heaters. After dissociation, the sample is applied to a filter to remove any remaining larger particles from the single-cell suspension.