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Volume 45, Issue 1 , Pages 74-81 , January 2009

Harmonisation of multi-centre real-time reverse-transcribed PCR results of a candidate prognostic marker in breast cancer: An EU-FP6 supported study of members of the EORTC – PathoBiology Group

P.N. Span
- Department of Chemical Endocrinology 479, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, P.O. Box 9101, NL-6500 HB Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +31 24 3614279; fax: +31 24 3541484.
A.M. Sieuwerts
- Department of Medical Oncology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
J.J.T.M. Heuvel
- Department of Chemical Endocrinology 479, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, P.O. Box 9101, NL-6500 HB Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
F. Spyratos
- Centre René Huguenin, Laboratoire d’Oncogénetique/INSERMU735, St-Cloud, France
M.J. Duffy
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, Conway Institute, University College, Dublin, Ireland
S. Eppenberger-Castori
- Stiftung Tumorbank Basel, Riehen, Switzerland
S. Vacher
- Centre René Huguenin, Laboratoire d’Oncogénetique/INSERMU735, St-Cloud, France
K. O’Brien
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, Conway Institute, University College, Dublin, Ireland
E. McKiernan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, Conway Institute, University College, Dublin, Ireland
A. Pierce
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, Conway Institute, University College, Dublin, Ireland
V. Vuaroqueaux
- Stiftung Tumorbank Basel, Riehen, Switzerland
J.A. Foekens
- Department of Medical Oncology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
F.C.G.J. Sweep
- Department of Chemical Endocrinology 479, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, P.O. Box 9101, NL-6500 HB Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
J.W.M. Martens
- Department of Medical Oncology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Received 9 July 2008 ,Revised 11 September 2008 ,Accepted 30 September 2008.

First EQA round. (A) Intra-laboratory CV for each participant per assay. (B) Inter-laboratory CV of samples that were reverse-transcribed by the participants according to their in-house RT protocol or

First EQA round. (A) Intra-laboratory CV for each participant per assay. (B) Inter-laboratory CV of samples that were reverse-transcribed by the participants according to their in-house RT protocol or by the central EQA laboratory.
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Second EQA round: intra-laboratory CV for each participant, either per assay (A) or on average for all assays (B). 1–5 denote the different participants. (C) Inter-laboratory CVs per assay.

Second EQA round: intra-laboratory CV for each participant, either per assay (A) or on average for all assays (B). 1–5 denote the different participants. (C) Inter-laboratory CVs per assay.
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Third EQA round: intra-laboratory CV for each participant, either per assay (A) or on average for all assays (B). 1–5 denote the different participants. (C) Inter-laboratory CVs per assay. PITX2A and

Third EQA round: intra-laboratory CV for each participant, either per assay (A) or on average for all assays (B). 1–5 denote the different participants. (C) Inter-laboratory CVs per assay. PITX2A and B2M values for participant 4 are missing.
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(A) Harmonisation factors for the different assays and participants. (B) Effect of harmonisation of data on inter-laboratory CV per assay. (C) Effect of normalisation – using reference gene expression

(A) Harmonisation factors for the different assays and participants. (B) Effect of harmonisation of data on inter-laboratory CV per assay. (C) Effect of normalisation – using reference gene expression – of data on inter-laboratory CV per assay.
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