Tissue microarrays: What will they bring to molecular and anatomic pathology?

The analysis of a large number of tumor tissues with conventional technique s of molecular pathology is tedious and slow. The authors recently develope d the tissue microarray technology that makes it possible to sample up to 1 000 tumors on one grass slide, which then can be analyzed by fluorescence i n situ hybridization, RNA in situ hybridization, or immunohistochemistry. T he tissue microarray technology has the potential to significantly accelera te molecular studies that seek associations between molecular changes and c linicopathologic features of the cancer. Examples of potential applications for tissue microarrays include testing and optimization of probes and anti bodies, the organization of large tissue repositories, and the facilitation of multicenter studies. Further, tissue microarrays can be used for educat ional purposes as well as to improve quality control and standardization of staining methods and interpretation. Tissue microarrays have become one of the most promising tools for the molecular and anatomic pathologist and wi ll have many applications in cancer research, as well as in other fields of pathology. This review article gives an overview of current applications o f tissue microarrays as well as possible future development of the technolo gy.