Molecular Techniques in Oncologic Pathology

Molecular techniques have already earned a place in the management of oncologic disorders. The requests of Clinical Oncologists to Pathologists include, besides the diagnosis, any additional information useful for prognosis and therapeutic choices, as well as expertise and technologies to follow-up patients. To fulfill these commitments, pathologists have been resorting to classical morphology, cytochemistry, immunocytochemistry, and have only recently come to include molecular genetic techniques. Most of the molecular methods of practical utility are based on the analysis of DNA. The DNA methodologies of routine applicability mainly include Southern blotting and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Southern blotting recognizes major DNA rearrangements, whereas PCR-based methods allow to recognize both gross chromosomal modifications and fine gene alterations, including point mutations. PCR techniques may also be used for many purposes using the partially degraded DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. Here we will draw a brief overview of the role of molecular genetic techniques in the pathology practice for the diagnosis, prognosis and follow-up of neoplastic diseases, using examples from our experience in hematology and gastroenterology.