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Microarray-based Identification of Individual HERV Loci Expression: Application to Biomarker Discovery in Prostate Cancer
Published on: November 2, 2013
Feasibility of constructing tissue microarrays from diagnostic prostate biopsies
Swaroop S Singh1, Diana C Mehedint, O Harris Ford
1Department of Urologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263, USA.
The Prostate
|May 4, 2007
Summary
Constructing prostate tissue microarrays (TMAs) from diagnostic biopsies is feasible under uniform conditions. However, tissue depletion in community labs hinders TMA creation for population-based prostate cancer studies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Prostate cancer molecular profiling requires high-throughput methods.
- Tissue microarrays (TMAs) enable efficient molecular analysis of limited tissue samples.
- Diagnostic prostate needle biopsies are a potential source for TMA construction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of constructing prostate TMAs from diagnostic prostate needle biopsies.
- To evaluate the impact of tissue handling and preservation on TMA quality.
- To determine the suitability of diagnostic biopsies for population-based prostate cancer research.
Main Methods:
- Two prostate TMAs were constructed using diagnostic biopsies from different patient cohorts (University of North Carolina and North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project).
- Biopsy blocks were assessed for sufficient tumor and tissue quantity for TMA fabrication.
- TMA core yield and quality were evaluated after sectioning to a depth of 360 microm.
Main Results:
- A TMA constructed from academic center biopsies (UNC) yielded an average of 76% of cores.
- A significant proportion of biopsies from a population-based study (PCaP) were unsuitable for TMA construction due to insufficient tissue or tumor.
- The PCaP TMA yielded a lower average of 37% of cores, highlighting variability in tissue availability.
Conclusions:
- TMA construction from diagnostic prostate biopsies is achievable under controlled, uniform conditions at an academic center.
- Tissue depletion due to excessive block facing and re-cuts in community pathology labs compromises TMA feasibility.
- Diagnostic prostate biopsies from population-based studies may not be suitable for constructing TMAs for nationwide prostate cancer research.
