title: Laser capture microdissection.
abstract: Laser capture microdissection (LCM) under direct microscopic visualization permits rapid one-step procurement of selected human cell populations from a section of complex, heterogeneous tissue. In this technique, a transparent thermoplastic film (ethylene vinyl acetate polymer) is applied to the surface of the tissue section on a standard glass histopathology slide; a carbon dioxide laser pulse then specifically activates the film above the cells of interest. Strong focal adhesion allows selective procurement of the targeted cells. Multiple examples of LCM transfer and tissue analysis, including polymerase chain reaction amplification of DNA and RNA, and enzyme recovery from transferred tissue are demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Room 2A33, Building 10, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Emmert-Buck
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Bonner
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Chuaqui
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Liotta
mesh_terms: D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004210:Dissection; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011145:Polyvinyls; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D016707:Tissue Fixation
chemical_list: D011145:Polyvinyls; C016438:ethylenevinylacetate copolymer; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA