One-step complete melting of paraffin tissue microarrays using stabilization bodies

Paraffin tissue microarrays (PTMAs) are constructed by putting paraffin tissue core biopsies (PTCBs) from donor blocks into the preformed holes of a recipient block. One problem that can occur during sectioning of a PTMA is that PTCBs can fold up. This may be caused by insufficient adhesion of the paraffins of the PTCBs and the recipient block. Mengel et al solved this problem by melting the PTMA block in a 2-step melting procedure. To simplify this melting procedure by reducing it to 1 step, we propose the use of paraffinized stabilization bodies, that is tissue or other biologic or synthetic material, for the construction of PTMAs. Because they keep their structure while the PTMA melts, they stabilize the PTCBs. Thus, a PTMA with a stabilization body can be fully melted in 1 step with a routine device like a hot plate without danger of the PTCBs toppling over.