Article Figures & Data
Figures
- Figure 1.
The patients for whom research tissues are available in epidemiologic studies reflects multiple factors related to diagnosis and treatment. These practices may vary between populations, geographic regions and calendar periods, and by patient and tumor features. Practices of tissue sampling and preparation for diagnosis may vary with the type of procedure used to collect the sample, the clinical context, and institutional protocols. All of the above may affect assay performance. In large studies, efforts to standardize, optimize, and automate performance and scoring of assays are important to control costs, speed completion of studies, and minimize variability. Computer infrastructure is important throughout the “cycle,” to provide tracking, data management, and facilitate downstream statistical analysis.
- Figure 2.
TMAs facilitate rapid, cost-effective high-throughput analysis of large tumor sets. Target areas within individual donor blocks are identified by examining corresponding H&E-stained tissue sections. Cylindrical cores are removed with semiautomated devices from each donor block and arrayed in a precise matrix in the recipient block to create the TMA. Assays done on single sections cut from TMA blocks enable the batched analysis of multiple tumors. Reprinted with permission: Kallioniemi O-P et al., TMA technology for high-throughput molecular profiling of cancer, Human Molecular Genetics, 2001, volume 10, issue 7: 657-62 (27).
Tables
- Table 1.
TMAs: selected design considerations
Design consideration Pros Cons Increased cores/sample Reduces missing data Increases effort Captures heterogeneity Larger core diameter Better target representation Fewer cores/TMA Replicate cores separated in different TMAs Protects material if one TMA block lost Need to ensure consistency More cores/TMA Reduces assay costs Mapping more difficult Grouping cores within TMA blocks by subject or tumor characteristics Conserves material for relevant assays Need to ensure consistency
Volume 19, Issue 4
Jump to section
- Article
- Abstract
- Background
- Availability of Tissue: Ensuring Representativeness of Samples
- Effect of Study Design
- Tissue Preservation and Fixation
- Assembling Tissues for Research
- Tissue Microarrays for High-Throughput Analysis
- Designing TMAs
- Tissue Cores for Molecular Studies
- Test Arrays and Cores
- Sectioning and Staining TMAs
- Scoring
- Future Directions
- Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest
- Acknowledgments
- References
- Figures & Data
- Info & Metrics