Stereotactic core biopsy breast and blood cell by-products: A source of material for molecular genetics research - Initial experience

Stereotactic core biopsy washings and blood drop samples, routinely discard ed by-products, provide satisfactory fresh cellular material for flow cytom etry and molecular genetics microsatellite polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for detection of loss of DNA alleles (loss of heterozygosity). Cyt okeratin-positive (epithelial) cells from the core biopsy washings were sor ted by means of flow cytometry prior to PCR analysis. DNA allele loss was d etected in benign breast epithelial cells in three (20%) of 15 patients.