National Cancer Institute (source definition)
Anchored Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction
A technique designed to rapidly enrich and amplify targets derived from samples that yield low levels of nucleic acids, such as formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, for use in next-generation sequencing. Briefly, total nucleic acid or genomic DNA (gDNA) is isolated from fresh or FFPE tissues. Total nucleic acid is converted to double-stranded cDNA (dscDNA) and cleaned by solid-phase reversible immobilization (SPRI). Then the dscDNA or gDNA is subjected to end repair, adenylation and ligation with a universal half-functional adapter. The modified DNA sample is then subjected to two rounds of nested low-cycle PCR, where the first round uses target gene-specific primers and the second round uses nested target gene-specific primers that are 5' tagged with a common sequencing adapter. The resulting target amplicon library is cleaned using SPRI and is suitable for use in next generation genomic assays.
Review and references
Automated source check (NCI definition)
2026-10-18
2026-10-19
professional use
References
- NCI Thesaurus 26.09d — Anchored Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (C192633)
- Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C192633. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.
- Diagnostic utility of anchored multiplex polymerase chain reaction-based fusion assay on sacrificed cytology slides. — Cancer Cytopathol, 2026-06-01 (PMID 42119039; literature)
- Fusion Gene Detection in Driver Mutation-Negative Melanomas Using RNA-Based Anchored Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction. — Pigment Cell Melanoma Res, 2025-11-01 (PMID 41029366; literature)
- Utility of an anchored multiplex polymerase chain reaction-based fusion assay for diagnosis of soft tissue tumors in cytology. — Cancer Cytopathol, 2024-06-30 (PMID 38944697; literature)
What it is
A technique designed to rapidly enrich and amplify targets derived from samples that yield low levels of nucleic acids, such as formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, for use in next-generation sequencing. Briefly, total nucleic acid or genomic DNA (gDNA) is isolated from fresh or FFPE tissues. Total nucleic acid is converted to double-stranded cDNA (dscDNA) and cleaned by solid-phase reversible immobilization (SPRI). Then the dscDNA or gDNA is subjected to end repair, adenylation and ligation with a universal half-functional adapter. The modified DNA sample is then subjected to two rounds of nested low-cycle PCR, where the first round uses target gene-specific primers and the second round uses nested target gene-specific primers that are 5' tagged with a common sequencing adapter. The resulting target amplicon library is cleaned using SPRI and is suitable for use in next generation genomic assays.
Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C192633. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.
Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-18. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Compliance note
Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.