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Microarray and histopathological analysis of tumours: the future and the past?

Nature Reviews Cancer volume 1, pages 151–157 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

The excitement surrounding the development of DNA microarray analysis and proteomics has raised questions about the role of these techniques in clinical practice and patient management. But how did the traditional methods of cancer diagnosis and prognosis develop, and how can high-throughput techniques contribute?

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Figure 1: The power of histological analysis.
Figure 2: Tumour heterogeneity.
Figure 3: Comparative genomic hybridization.
Figure 4: Gene-expression analysis of tumours.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Breakthrough Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Research, Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building, Chester Beatty Laboratories, Fulham Road, London, SW3 6JB, UK

    Sunil R. Lakhani & Alan Ashworth

Authors
  1. Sunil R. Lakhani
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  2. Alan Ashworth
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Related links

Related links

DATABASES

CancerNet:

breast tumour

colorectal tumour

squamous cell carcinomas

thyroid tumours

 LocusLink:

ABL

BCR

HER2/NEU

oestrogen receptor

 Medscape DrugInfo:

Herceptin

Gleevec

Tamoxifen

 OMIM:

multiple endocrine neoplasia

FURTHER INFORMATION

Breast Pathology Index

Introduction to Microarray Analysis

Laser Capture Microdissection

NHGRI Introduction to DNA Microarray Technology

Stanford University Microarray site

Tumour Pathology

Glossary

AMPLICON

Region of amplified DNA.

BASALOID

Cells exhibiting immunohistochemical markers normally seen in myoepithelial/basal cells of the breast ducts.

FLUORESCENCE IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION

A technique to identify specific chromosomes or chromosomal regions using fluorescently-labelled DNA probes.

PERITONEUM

Serous membrane lining the walls of the abdominal cavity and pelvis.

PLEOMORPHISM

Differences in size and shape, usually referring to nuclei (nuclear pleomorphism) but also to cells (cellular pleomorphism).

PLEURA

Serous membrane that lines the lungs and thoracic cavity.

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Lakhani, S., Ashworth, A. Microarray and histopathological analysis of tumours: the future and the past?. Nat Rev Cancer 1, 151–157 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35101087

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