FRESH TISSUE HARVEST FOR RESEARCH FROM PROSTATECTOMY SPECIMENS

As a consequence of molecular biological and genetic techniques, the d emand for fresh tissue for basic research has increased dramatically a t academic medical centers. Because of the extreme lability of many bi ological macromolecules, tissue must be harvested with the least possi ble delay from the time of removal. This necessity for quick action, f requently under less than optimal circumstances, along with the obviou s loss of tissue available for diagnostic purposes, presents a dauntin g challenge to the pathologist responsible for accurate grading and st aging of the cancer. A novel approach is described for the procurement of fresh and freshly frozen prostatic tissue with acceptable limitati ons on subsequent morphological analysis. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.