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[Clonality study of palmar fibromatosis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clonality of palmar fibromatosis by molecular genetic analysis of X chromosome inactivation pattern at a polymorphic site of human androgen receptor gene (HUMARA). METHODS: Twelve female cases of palmar fibromatosis were enrolled into this study. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed tissues were microdissected by laser capture microdissection technology in order to obtain the proliferative spindle cells. Tumor cells isolated from rectal adenocarcinoma in a female patient were used as positive control. The genomic DNAs were extracted with phenol and chloroform, digested with methylation-sensitive restriction endonuclease HpaII, and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers targeted to a highly polymorphic short tandem repeat of HUMARA. The amplimers were separated on vertical 8% non-denaturing polyacrylamide gels and the patterns were visualized with ethidium bromide stain. RESULTS: The methodology for clonality analysis was validated in the positive control using rectal adenocarcinoma cells. Among the 12 cases studied, PCR amplification failed in 3 samples and 1 sample showed homozygosity which was not suitable for further analysis. Eight samples were successfully amplified and showed a random X chromosome inactivation pattern, suggesting polyclonality in these lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Palmar fibromatosis is a polyclonal condition and should be considered as a form of non-neoplasmic fibroblastic proliferation.

Actins↗

Allelic loss of Hox11L1 gene locus predicts outcome of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in tumors has been described to have prognostic impact. Hox11L1 gene, located on chromosome 2, has a role in proliferation of neuronal myenteric Cajal cells being the progenitor cells of GISTs. The aim was to examine the frequency and prognostic value of allelic loss of Hox11L1 gene locus in GISTs. Tumor and control DNA of 72 GIST patients was extracted after microdissection from tissue sections. Patients underwent surgery between 1992 and 2003 and were histopathologically reclassified. Microsatellite marker D2S286 on chromosomes 2 near Hox11L1 gene locus was used for detection of LOH by PCR and capillary electrophoresis. Survival was calculated by Kaplan-Meier plots. LOH was found in 7 (10%) of 72 GISTs. Fifty-four (75%) cases did not show LOH. Eleven (15%) were homozygous and consequently non-informative. Survival analysis (n=59) revealed a significantly worse tumor-specific and relapse-free survival for GIST patients with LOH in the tumor by univariate analysis (p<0.05 by log-rank test; median follow-up time 37 months). LOH of Hox11L1 gene locus is a useful parameter for prognosis of GIST. The data propose that Hox11L1 has a role in tumorigenesis in GISTs.

Alleles↗

Sex differences among oxytocin-immunoreactive neuronal systems in the mouse hypothalamus.

Serial frontal sections of male and female mouse hypothalamus were immunostained with an antiserum to oxytocin, in order to study the topographical distribution of oxytocinergic perikarya and processes. Numbers of immunostained perikarya were counted in various hypothalamic regions. The oxytocin content of microdissected hypothalamic tissue samples was measured in radioimmunoassays. While the overall topographical distribution of oxytocin neurons in the classical magnocellular nuclei was similar in both genders, quantitative differences could be observed. The numbers of immunostained perikarya and the amounts of oxytocin found in females exceeded by far the numbers and amounts found in males. Male mice had fewer oxytocin-immunostained axons, projecting within the brain, than females. This was especially apparent in parts of the limbic system. Oxytocin-immunostained neurons in the perifornical region, the lateral hypothalamus and the ventral ansa lenticularis were mostly absent in males. It is possible that the observed sex differences in oxytocin immunoreactive brain architecture are due to the different hormonal conditions in males and females.

Animals↗

DNA content of Hurthle cell nodules in autoimmune thyroiditis.

Hurthle cells are found in thyroid neoplasms and in reactive nodules in thyroiditis or goitrogenic processes. Cytometric studies have evaluated Hurthle cell neoplasms but not their reactive counterparts. DNA content of Hurthle cells in 22 cases of autoimmune thyroiditis was measured by flow cytometry and image content of Hurthle cells in 22 cases of autoimmune thyroiditis was measured by flow cytometry and image processing using nuclei extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue after microdissection of the Hurthle cell nodules. All 22 autoimmune thyroiditis Hurthle cell nodules were diploid, including 16 without associated neoplasms and six with associated malignant neoplasms (four papillary carcinomas, one follicular carcinoma and one follicular adenoma with papillary carcinoma). Concordance between flow cytometry and image processing was 100%. These findings indicate that the markedly atypical Hurthle cells in autoimmune thyroiditis are diploid by DNA quantitation. This suggests that atypia in Hurthle cells due to reactive or neoplastic processes may be differentiated by quantitative DNA analysis.

Adult↗

Scanning electron microscopy of Thebesian ostia (microdissection by ultrasonication: enzymatic digestion).

Thebesian vasculature provides for communication between the coronary system and the chambers of the heart. Anatomic, embryologic, physiologic, and therapeutic investigations have involved this component of cardiac anatomy from the early 18th century to the present time. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) now affords an innovative approach to the study of the ostia of these veins as they open into the chambers of the heart. The surface of the intact endocardium is continuous, whether it is treated with boric acid or not, as long as it remains intact. Enzymatic microdissection of tissues with trypsin, hyaluronidase and pronase, followed by similar treatment with boric acid, reveals continuity of successive component layers of the endocardium extending into Thebesian substructure. Thebesian tributaries are easily visualized from the ostia but the deeper capillary network of the Thebesian system is not demonstrable by this approach. Valvular structures such as might prevent retroflow during the cardiac cycle are not present. Our observations with SEM support anatomic relationships indicated by previously published work.

Animals↗

Autoradiography of diffusible substances: verification of the specificity of the localization by correlated physiological, biochemical, and pharmacological studies.

Recent advances in autoradiographic technique make it possible to localize quite a diverse class of soluble and/or diffusible substances. However since the molecules in question could move or be displaced at any time during preparation it is necessary to employ chemical or physiological tests to prove the validity of the localization. For two classes of compounds this can be done quite readily. 3H-ouabain, a cardiac glycoside that binds specifically to the Na pump, can be monitored for its effect on Na transport and the binding itself can be controlled by manipulating specific ligands known to modulate the ouabain-Na pump interaction. Acetylcholine can be readily analyzed by chemical means and its solubility characteristics allow one to extract it even from osmium-fixed embedded sections. Thus it is possible to monitor for the presence of acetylcholine in tissue through the processing for autoradiography and even chemically characterize small areas of tissue by microdissection of sectioned material.

Acetylcholine↗

Differential localization of collagen type IX isoform messenger RNAs during early ocular development.

PURPOSE: To determine the temporal and spatial localization of the messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for the two collagen alpha 1(IX) isoforms during early development of the embryonic chicken eye. METHODS: The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method was used to amplify mRNAs for the two collagen alpha 1(IX) isoforms. mRNA was extracted from optic vesicles of chicken embryos at stages 14 to 19 and from microdissected ocular tissues of older embryonic eyes. After synthesis of complementary DNA, the polymerase chain reaction was performed for 20, 25, or 30 cycles. This ensured a reliable estimate of the relative abundance of the two mRNAs at different stages and in different ocular tissues. Data from the polymerase chain reaction were confirmed by Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: mRNA for the shorter alpha 1(IX) chain was present in the optic vesicle as early as stage 14, whereas mRNA for the longer alpha 1(IX) chain was not detectable until after the optic vesicle and lens started to invaginate (stage 15; day 2.5). In later stages of development, mRNAs for both alpha 1(IX) chains were present predominantly in the presumptive ciliary epithelium. They were just detectable in the neural retina at stages 20 and 23 (days 3 to 3.5). By E6 no mRNA for the shorter alpha 1(IX) isoform was detected in the retina, although a trace of the longer alpha 1(IX) isoform was still present. In the lens, mRNA for neither isoform was detectable at any stage. CONCLUSIONS: The two isoforms of alpha 1(IX) collagen mRNA are expressed differentially in space and time during early development of the embryonic chicken eye. These molecules may serve as markers for the early specialization of ciliary epithelium as a distinct region of the optic cup.

Animals↗

Decreased gene expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in hypothalamus and brainstem of rats in heart failure.

Nitric oxide may act at autonomic sites in the brain to regulate sympathetic outflow. Our goal was to determine whether gene expression of the neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is altered in discrete autonomic brain regions of rats in the chronic phase of heart failure compared to sham-operated control rats. Experiments were performed in rats 4 to 5 weeks after left coronary artery ligation. Histological data indicated that there was a 39% outer and a 45% inner infarct of the left ventricular myocardium in the heart failure group. The myocardium in sham-operated rats showed no observable damage. Total RNA was purified from microdissected brain tissue blocks containing hypothalamus, dorsal pons, dorsal medulla, rostral ventrolateral medulla, and caudal ventrolateral medulla. Changes in nNOS mRNA were semiquantified in each region using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions in which known concentrations of deletion mutant of the gene were coamplified as an internal standard. Compared with controls, significant decreases in nNOS mRNA levels were found in hypothalamus (19%), dorsal pons (43%) and dorsal medulla (34%) of rats with heart failure. There were no statistically significant differences in nNOS mRNA levels in rostral or caudal ventrolateral medulla between the control and heart failure groups. Concomitant with the changes nNOS gene expression in central sites, the plasma concentration of norepinephrine was significantly elevated in rats with heart failure compared to sham-operated control rats. Our results show that heart failure is associated with decreases in nNOS gene expression in at least three regions of the brain and with increased sympathetic outflow to the periphery. The decreased NO production that is likely associated with the decreases in nNOS gene expression may lead to the increased sympathetic drive seen in chronic heart failure.

Animals↗

Deletions of chromosome 3p are frequent and early events in the pathogenesis of uterine cervical carcinoma.

To study the molecular abnormalities involved in the multistage development of cervical carcinoma (CC), we investigated the presence of oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) sequences, loss of heterozygosity (LOH), and microsatellite alterations at several genes/loci at 3p (3p14.2 at the FHIT gene, 3p14.3-21.1, 3p21, and 3p22-24.2), 9p21, RB and P53, and P53 gene point mutations in precisely microdissected archival tissues from 20 CCs and their accompanying precursor lesions (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, CIN; n = 40) and normal epithelia (n = 20). In all HPV-positive cases (90% of CCs), HPV sequences were detected as the earliest appearing molecular change or simultaneously with other changes. LOH at any 3p region was found in 70% of CCs, and 3p14.2 (FHIT gene/FRA3B fragile site) (56%) and 3p21 (57%) were the most frequent 3p sites of loss. LOH at some 3p region was in the CIN I stage, and the 3p deletions in precursor CIN lesions were smaller than the 3p losses found in the associated invasive CC. LOH at the other regions studied and P53 gene mutations were less frequent and later events. Microsatellite alterations were detected in 35% of CCs, and identical abnormalities were detected in the associated precursor lesions. Although infection with oncogenic HPV strains is the earliest and most frequent molecular event, progressive deletions at one or more 3p regions (particularly at 3p14.2, and 3p21) are also frequent events occurring early in the pathogenesis of CC.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

Molecular evidence that most but not all carcinosarcomas of the uterus are combination tumors.

The pathogenesis of carcinosarcoma is still a subject of controversy. In the present study, molecular techniques were applied to determine the pathogenesis of uterine carcinosarcomas. The patterns of chromosome X inactivation were analyzed, targeting a portion of exon 1 of the human androgen receptor (HUMARA) in malignant epithelial and mesenchymal components. The presence of p53 and K-ras mutations were also analyzed. H&E-stained sections of paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed tissues were microdissected to obtain both epithelial and nonepithelial lesions from 25 carcinosarcomas, and DNAs were extracted by proteinase K digestion. Following treatment with methylation-sensitive restriction endonuclease (HhaI or HpaII), PCR amplification was performed using nested primers targeted to the HUMARA locus. Mutations in the p53 gene and K-ras gene were found in eight (32%) and six (24%) tumors, respectively. The patterns of chromosome X inactivation were different between the carcinomatous and sarcomatous components of three carcinosarcomas, indicating that these three tumors represent collision tumors. By contrast, the patterns of chromosome X inactivation, K-ras sequence, and p53 sequence were identical in both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components in 21 carcinosarcomas, indicating that these 21 tumors represent combination tumors. One case produced equivocal results that precluded determination of whether it represented a collision or combination tumor. These observations show that although most carcinosarcomas are combination tumors, some develop as collision tumors. The determination of histogenesis in individual cases of carcinosarcoma using molecular markers may be worthwhile, because the result could help predict the prognosis of individual cases and help guide clinical management.

Adult↗

Microdissection-based allelotyping: a novel technique to determine the temporal sequence and biological aggressiveness of colorectal cancer.

Pathologic staging in colorectal adenocarcinoma (CA) is based on the concept that the timing of metastatic tumor spread is directly related to the depth of the primary tumor invasion. To evaluate the temporal sequence of CA metastasis, we performed microdissection mutational profiling at multiple microscopic sites of primary and metastatic CA specimens. Twenty-one cases of CA were selected from fixed-tissue archives. Primary tumors were microdissected at the deepest point of invasion. Comparative mutational profiling for different genomic loci [1p36(CCM = cutaneous malignant melanoma], 3p26(OGGI = 8 oxoguanine DNA glycosylase), 5q23 (APC, MCC = mutated in colorectal cancer), 9p21(p16/CDKN2A = cyclin-dependent kinase 2A), 10q23(PTEN = phosphatase and tensin homolog [mutated in multiple advanced cancers 11), 12p12(K-ras-2 point mutation), 17p13(TP53), 18q25(DCC= deleted in colorectal cancer) was carried out on each microdissected tissue target using microsatellite loss of heterozygosity determination or DNA sequencing. All primary and metastatic sites of CA manifested acquired mutational change in 18 to 91 per cent of the genomic markers. In 15/21 (71%) cases, metastatic sites lacked a specific allelic loss seen in the corresponding primary tumor, indicating that the metastasis occurred before maximal depth of primary invasion. This was further supported by discordant mutational profiles between primary and secondary tumors, requiring divergent clonal evolution. This is the first report describing the temporal sequence and significance of sequential mutational acquisition in clinical tissue specimens with potential implications for a new molecular pathology approach to classify human cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Barrett's esophagus: metaplastic cells with loss of heterozygosity at the APC gene locus are clonal precursors to invasive adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma in Barrett's esophagus is the second most rapidly increasing cancer in western society. The cause and pathogenesis are unknown. Although histological studies suggest that there is successive progression from metaplasia and dysplasia, with a high risk of subsequent invasive carcinoma, at present there is no direct evidence that metaplastic and dysplastic epithelia are clonal precursors of adenocarcinoma. We selected 12 esophagectomy specimens of Barrett's esophagus patients, which showed a spectrum of normal tissue, metaplasia, dysplasia, and invasive carcinoma in each individual biopsy. We applied the microdissection technique to selectively procure microscopic tissue samples from H&E-stained slides for genetic evaluation using polymorphic markers flanking the APC gene locus. Identical APC gene alterations were found in the dysplastic and adenocarcinoma foci of all informative cases. The same changes were observed even in some metaplastic foci adjacent to dysplasia. Furthermore, clonality analysis of X-chromosome inactivation in female cases verified the same X-chromosome inactivation pattern in carcinoma, dysplasia, and metaplasia adjacent to dysplasia. No APC gene alterations were found in the normal epithelium and metaplasia distant from dysplasia. These data show for the first time that a tissue field of genotypic changes precedes the histopathological phenotypic changes of carcinoma in Barrett's esophagus syndrome. Our findings, in conjunction with the applied tissue microdissection technique, may help identify genotypic changes in patients with Barrett's esophagus before phenotypic changes occur. Therefore, genotyping of Barrett's metaplastic epithelium may supplement the histopathological evaluation of Barrett's esophagus.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Molecular alterations in columnar cell lesions of the breast.

Columnar cell lesions of the breast include a morphologic spectrum of simple columnar cell change, columnar cell hyperplasia, columnar cell hyperplasia with atypia and ductal carcinoma in situ of micropapillary/cribriform type. Invasive carcinomas of low grade are often seen in association with this spectrum. The biologic significance of these lesions that are commonly found on breast biopsies is unknown. Three cases of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast tissues, each displaying the entire spectrum of columnar cell lesions through ductal carcinoma in situ and including foci of invasive carcinoma were microdissected at multiple sites to evaluate neoplasia progression. Minute tissue targets were microdissected (4-8/case) from unstained 4-microm thick recut paraffin sections and included non-neoplastic breast and sites of columnar cell change, hyperplasia, atypia, ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma. Allelic imbalance for a broad panel of microsatellite markers in proximity to known tumor suppressor genes was quantitated using automated polymerase chain reaction/gel electrophoresis. Genomic loci evaluated 1p, 3p, 5q, 9p, 9q, 10q, 17p, 17q, 19q, 22q. The presence, topographic relationship and time course of mutational damage was correlated with columnar morphologic features. Detailed allelic imbalance information was obtained from each microdissection tissue target producing a detailed fingerprint of mutational damage in each case. Allelic damage was targeted predominately at 9q, 10q, 17p and 17q. Simple columnar cell change was without mutational changes and only present in one case of columnar cell hyperplasia. The remainder of the cases all show progressive accumulation of allelic damage in columnar cell changes with atypia, ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma. The fractional mutation percentage increased progressively from columnar cell hyperplasia through invasive carcinoma. Low level of allelic imbalance was demonstrable in columnar cell lesions by the microdissection approach. A gradient of progressive mutational change could be delineated in each case manifesting allelic loss damage. Allelic loss damage appeared to preferentially target loci at 9q, 10q, 17p and 17q. The findings are consonant with the hypothesis that a select group of atypical columnar cell lesions are morphologic precursors to invasive carcinoma. Integrated molecular pathology analysis used here can help define the significance of columnar cell lesions and its role in breast cancer tumorigenesis on an individual patient basis.

Breast↗

Application of sensitive fluorescent dyes in linkage of laser microdissection and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis as a cancer proteomic study tool.

The combination of laser microdissection and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) has been developed to perform proteomic analysis on specific populations of cells in cancer tissues. However, as conventional low sensitivity silver staining was used for spot detection, the microdissection required to obtain an adequate amount of protein for 2-D PAGE is laborious and only a restricted number of protein spots could be visualized. As a consequence, this technology was impractical for direct clinical applications and had a limited impact on cancer studies. To solve these problems, we developed an application in which fluorescent dyes label the proteins extracted from microdissected tissues prior to 2-D PAGE separation. In this application, a small amount of protein, less than 6.6 microg, was enough to generate a 2-D profile with approximately 1500 protein spots. This technique was applied to compare the proteome of normal intestinal epithelium with that of adenoma in Min mice. Thirty-seven protein spots reproducibly showed significant differences in intensities. Mass spectrometric analysis and Western blotting identified eight of them, including prohibitin, 14-3-3zeta, tropomyosin 3 and Hsp84. These results indicate that fluorescence labeling of proteins from microdissected tissues prior to 2-D PAGE is a powerful cancer proteomic study tool.

Adenoma↗

Methodology for preservation of high molecular-weight RNA in paraffin-embedded tissue: application for laser-capture microdissection.

Laser-capture microdissection techniques have enhanced the ability to perform molecular studies of pure-cell populations. Although many technical factors affect the outcome of the procedure, none is more critical than the appropriate handling of the tissue. Because extraction of intact RNA from paraffin-embedded tissue is a difficult and inconsistent process, frozen sections with their attendant problems are used for this purpose. The major limitation of frozen section is its inferior morphologic quality compared with paraffin-embedded sections that may complicate accurate identification of cells during microdissection. We have developed a procedure that provides both high-quality histomorphology and RNA preservation in paraffin-embedded tissue. It is based on the use of a methanol-based fixative coupled with microwave-assisted rapid tissue processing. This technology in conjunction with a modified hematoxylin-eosin stain and a RNA extraction method allows isolation of high molecular-weight RNA from laser-capture microdissected, hematoxylin and eosin-stained paraffin sections. The high quality of the extracted RNA was confirmed by capillary electrophoresis and RT-PCR. The combination of a methanol-based fixative, rapid microwave tissue processing, and a modified hematoxylin and eosin stain produces paraffin sections that yield high molecular-weight RNA upon microdissection. This methodology opens the door for a wide range of gene expression analyses using paraffin-embedded tissue.

Electrophoresis, Capillary↗

p53 mutations in mammary ductal carcinoma in situ but not in epithelial hyperplasias.

The development and progression of human breast neoplasia is characterized by the accumulation of numerous somatic genetic alterations. Although mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene is one of the most common alterations identified in invasive carcinomas, it is not clear whether mutations usually occur in noninvasive lesions before the development of invasion. To investigate the presence and heterogeneity of p53 mutations in breast neoplasia, we studied a morphological spectrum of paired lesions including invasive carcinomas and adjacent noninvasive epithelial lesions. Using 18 invasive ductal carcinomas with known p53 mutations, tissue samples were microdissected from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections, and mutations in exons 4-8 of the p53 gene were identified by PCR amplification, single-strand conformational polymorphism, and direct sequencing. Multiple geographically distinct foci of invasive carcinoma were microdissected from six different invasive carcinomas, and all samples from each case had the same mutation. The absence of mutation heterogeneity provides evidence that p53 mutations occurred at the time of, or before, the clonal selection of the dominant component of the invasive carcinoma. To delineate the timing of p53 inactivation further in these cases, histological slides were reviewed to identify all noninvasive epithelial lesions. There were eight cases with associated ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and in total, 27 distinct tissue samples representing a spectrum of histological subtypes and grades of DCIS were microdissected. In all 27 samples, the identical p53 mutation was identified in the DCIS as was present in the invasive carcinoma. In contrast, no p53 mutations were identified in any of the 21 microdissected foci of epithelial hyperplasia analyzed, including one sample with atypia. Together, these findings provide support that p53 mutations commonly occur early in breast neoplasia, usually at the stage of DCIS, but are not often identified in foci of hyperplasia. These findings support an important biological role for p53 mutation in progression from noninvasive precursors in breast neoplasia and provide further evidence that p53 mutation could have potential use as a molecular marker.

Adult↗

Whole genome amplification and molecular genetic analysis of DNA from paraffin-embedded prostate adenocarcinoma tumor tissue.

PURPOSE: Often tissues obtained from prostate adenocarcinoma tumors embedded in paraffin are heterogeneous in cell type and must be carefully microdissected to acquire tissue fragments that provide homogeneous aliquots of tumor clones. Such tissue fragments rarely contain sufficient DNA to perform genomic characterization needed as an early step in localizing relevant oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. We report that PCR using a degenerate oligonucleotide primer (DOP-PCR) can be applied to DNA samples from microdissected paraffin-embedded prostate adenocarcinomas, and this provides sufficient product for fluorescent allelic imbalance measurements or comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples were selected to be representative of those routinely obtained during prostatectomies, based on typical tumor stages (T2 and T3) and Gleason grades (range 3 +3 to 4 +5). For DNA analysis without prior DOP-PCR, only large tumors were selected to be sectioned. More than 50 specimens were analyzed. Close comparison of data obtained from analysis of DOP-PCR with those from non-DOP DNA was obtained on a subset 8 samples. To compare the allelic balance of DOP-PCR amplified DNA with that measured for non-DOP DNA, we analyzed allelic ratios on DNA from 5 different tissue samples processed by both microdissection and conventional sectioning. RESULTS: Systematic comparison of allelic imbalance results shows close similarity between DOP-PCR amplified product and non-DOP DNA, indicating that PCR product is a valid representation of the tumor genome. In addition, the difference between allelic balance and imbalance is more distinctive when microdissection followed by DOP-PCR is performed. Performing CGH on products of DOP-PCR also shows distinctive regional copy number alterations in DNA from microdissected tumor tissue. CONCLUSION: Either of these procedures allows distinction between benign and malignant genomes, and also allows independent analysis of genomic alterations in different portions of tumors. They also may be applied clinically for genomic characterization of small foci that frequently appear in prostates of elderly men who are showing no obvious pathological symptoms of adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Laser capture microdissection and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis: evaluation of tissue preparation and sample limitations.

Laser capture microdissection (LCM) is now well established as a tool for facilitating the enrichment of cells of interest from tissue sections, overcoming the problem of tissue heterogeneity. LCM has been used extensively in combination with analysis at the DNA and RNA levels, but only a small number of studies have employed LCM with subsequent protein analysis, albeit with promising results. This study focuses on the potential of LCM in combination with two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The effects of tissue section preparation and sample type were evaluated to fully determine the suitability of using LCM in global protein profiling. The effects of several histochemical stains (hematoxylin and eosin, methyl green and toluidine blue) and immunolabeling on subsequent two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were investigated. Quantitative analysis was performed to establish the extent of changes in the relative intensity of protein species and their reproducibility. All staining protocols tested were found to be compatible with protein analysis although there was variation in protein recovery and the quality of the protein profiles obtained. LCM of renal and cervix samples indicated that protein yield after dissection was acceptable, although the extent of enrichment and dissection time was tissue-dependent, which may preclude the use of this approach with some tissue types. These results indicate that LCM has potential as a tool in proteomic research.

Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional↗