Tissue microarray

Abstract

Tissue microarray (TMA) is a powerful tool for performing population level studies using tissues routinely processed in surgical pathology. They are used for a variety of applications including validation of cDNA array data; validation of the sensitivity and specificity of antibodies; quality assurance in immunohistochemistry; translation of data from cell line, xenograft, and animal models to human cancer; collaborative studies, especially for aggregation and preservation of rare tumor tissues; molecular profiling of large series of tumors or diseased tissue and correlation with clinical endpoints; and evaluation of diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic potential of newly discovered genes and molecules. Most standard histologic and molecular techniques can be applied to TMA sections. Image analysis and data management are crucial issues, but many tools are available.