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SickKids

Cell Signaling Pathways Panel (CSPP) (Testing for research/investigational purposes only)

Alternate test name

Cell Signaling Pathways Panel (MAPK, PI3K, JAK/STAT, NFkB pathways)

Gene name / Alternate gene name

Probes designed to detect the following genes are included in the assay:

AKT1, AKT2, AKT3, ALK, AMIGO1, ARSJ, ATP6V1G2, BCL2A1, BRAF, C5orf52, CBX7, CCDC28A, CCL2, CCL20, CCND1, CCND2, CCND3, CDK4, CDK6, CDKN2A, CDKN2B, CHUK, CMPK2, COQ8A, CREB3L4, CREBRF, CRYL1, CTSF, CXCL1, CXCL11, CXCL3, CXCL8, DDX50, DDX58, DUSP4, DUSP5, DUSP6, EGFR, EIF2B4, EPHA2, ERBB2, ERBB3, ETV4, ETV5, FAXDC2, FBXO25, FCGRT, FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3, FGFR4, FOSL1, GNPTG, HRAS, HSBP1L1, HSD17B8, ICAM1, IFI44, IFI44L, IFI6, IFIT1, IFIT2, IFIT3, IFITM1, IGF1R, IKBKB, IKBKG, IL1B, IL6, ING4, ISG15, JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, KRAS, MAP2K1, MAP2K2, MAPK1, MAPK3, MFGE8, MLANA, MRPS5, MTOR, MX1, NFKBIZ, NRAS, NT5E, NTRK1, NTRK2, NTRK3, OAS1, OASL, PDGFRA, PDGFRB, PHLDA1, PIK3CA, PTEN, PTX3, RAF1, RB1, RELA, RELB, RET, RSAD2, SAP130, SLC20A1, SLC27A1, SMIM19, SPRED1, SPRY2, SPRY4, SPSB3, STAT3, STAT5A, TMEM42, TNF, TNFAIP3, TNFAIP6, TNFRSF10A, UBALD2

Lab area
Pathology - Molecular
Method and equipment

nanoString nCounter Technology

Expected turn-around time
7 Business Days
Specimen type

Tumor Tissue - 40 mg frozen tissue, or 10x10 FFPE micron sections, or FFPE block

Specimen requirements
  • The tissue provided must have been confirmed as a CNS Tumour by a pathologist
  • The tissue provided must be representative of the tumour
  • One H&E stained slide representative of the tested tissue must be provided
  • RNA-based assay
Storage and transportation

To avoid compromising specimen integrity, ship Monday through Wednesday only.
Do not ship specimen on the day of or the day before a Canadian statutory holiday.
Canadian Holidays to consider:
• New Year’s Day – January 1
• Good Friday – the Friday before Easter
• Victoria Day – Monday on or before May 24
• Canada Day – July 1
• Civic Holiday – First Monday in August
• Labour Day – First Monday in September
• Thanksgiving – Second Monday in October
• Christmas Day – December 25
• Boxing Day – December 26

SNAP FROZEN TISSUES.
• All frozen tissues must be shipped on dry ice.
• Specimen must be sent Monday through Wednesday only.
• Never place samples directly on the dry ice.
• We recommend a minimum of 4 kg (approx. 10 lbs.) of dry ice for international shipments.
• Do not over-pack. Over-packed Styrofoam will crack and dry ice will be consumed faster.
• Regulations require that the diamond shaped dry ice sticker be placed on the outside of the shipping box.


PARAFFIN SCROLLS.
• Scrolls from FFPE tissues can be shipped at room temperature.
• Scrolls must be shipped immediately after shaving.


PARAFFIN BLOCKS.
• Block(s) from FFPE tissues can be shipped at room temperature. 


To avoid shipping problems:
• To schedule a shipment, contact a freight forwarder who knows how to export medical specimens from your country.
• Ask the forwarder to help you with local regulations, completing the necessary documentation and arranging to clear the shipment through 
Canada Customs.
• Transit times may be more than one day. Please take this into account when packaging your samples.

Shipping information
The Hospital for Sick Children
Division of Pathology
3rd Floor, Burton Wing, 555 University Avenue, Room 3110
Toronto, ON
Canada
M5G 1X8
Phone: 416-813-5967
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Off hours: Please send to Rapid Response Laboratory, 555 University Avenue, Room 3642
Background and clinical significance

Testing for research/investigational purposes only

The NanoString CSPP assay will determine activity levels of four main targetable cancer pathways (RAS/MAPK, PI3K, JAK/STAT, NFkB). These pathway scores will be used to help clinicians choose amongst various targeted therapeutics alongside DNA mutation data for patients with cancers that are not responding to standard of care therapies.

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