Abstract
Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) was developed by Dr. Emmert-Buck and colleagues at NIH in the mid-1990s. During the last few years, scientists have become more familiar with LCM, and most major academic institutions and industries have LCM within core facilities. For pathologists, LCM is considered to be a “state of the art” technology. Pathologists and molecular biologists are interested in using this technology to isolate pure populations of cells for subsequent genomic or proteomic analysis. Laser Capture Microdissection: Methods and Protocols provides researchers with practical advice and detailed technical protocols for carrying out tissue-based LCM, as well as how to couple LCM to a range of molecular technologies.
Following a brief introduction into laser-based tissue microdissection techniques, the authors of each chapter focus on specific topics with step-by-step details describing optimized and reproducible protocols successfully used in their own laboratories. Included are lists of all necessary equipment and reagents, as well as tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls associated with each protocol. The detail provided for each application is of particular use to those new to LCM, but even advanced users will benefit.
A previous book, Methods in Enzymology: Laser Capture Microscopy (P. Michael Conn, ed.) focused on the basic principles of LCM and its applications in DNA analysis. Laser Capture Microdissection: Methods and Protocols expands upon this earlier text by introducing recent advances in LCM technology, as well as applications beyond DNA analysis such as RT-PCR, microarray expression profiling, and proteomics. Some noteworthy topics in this volume include the molecular analysis of microorganisms, detection of genetic aberrations in early and advanced human urinary bladder cancer, analysis of macrophage gene expression in atherosclerotic lesions, proteomic analysis of colorectal cancer, and PCR analysis of human papilloma virus infection.
In summary, this book provides detailed established protocols that are suitable for molecular studies requiring LCM enrichment of samples. It is very readable, and has a complete reference list for those pathologists and other research scientists working in the molecular pathology research fields.