Review Article Laser Capture Microdissection in the Genomic and Proteomic Era: Targeting the Genetic Basis of Cancer
Barbara Domaze, Gregory T. MacLennan, Antonio Lopez-Beltran, Rodolfo Montironi, and Liang Cheng
Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Urology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Pathology, Cordoba University, Cordoba, Spain and Institute of Pathological Anatomy and Histopathology, School of Medicine, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region (Ancona), United Hospitals, Ancona, Italy
Received 25 Feb 2008; accepted and available online 15 March 2008
Abstract: The advent of new technologies has enabled deeper insight into processes at subcellular levels, which will ultimately improve diagnostic procedures and patient outcome. Thanks to cell enrichment methods, it is now possible to study cells in their native environment. This has greatly contributed to a rapid growth in several areas, such as gene expression analysis, proteomics, and metabolonomics. Laser capture microdissection (LCM) as a method of procuring subpopulations of cells under direct visual inspection is playing an important role in these areas. This review provides an overview of existing LCM technology and its downstream applications in genomics, proteomics, diagnostics and therapy. (IJCEP802002).
Address all correspondence to: Liang Cheng, MD, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 350 West 11th Street, Clarian Pathology Laboratory Room 4010, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. Telephone: 317-491-6442; Fax: 317-491-6419; Email: liang_cheng@yahoo.com