Using tissue adjacent to carcinoma as a normal control: an obvious but questionable practice.
When carcinoma tissue is investigated using biochemical, immunohistochemical, and genetic techniques, adjacent tissue that is macroscopically normal is frequently used as a control, since cancer-related pheno- and geno-typic alterations are assumed to be absent. However, a field that contains genetically abnormal cells surrounds a significant proportion of carcinomas (for example, over 30% of head and neck cancers). These fields can be large (>7 cm in diameter) and consist of cells that are clonally related to the carcinoma. This indicates that adjacent epithelium must be checked for genetic abnormalities before it is considered normal and used as a control for comparison with carcinoma.
Braakhuis
Boudewijn J M
BJ
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. bjm.braakhuis@vumc.nl
Leemans
C René
CR
Brakenhoff
Ruud H
RH
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D012107:Research Design
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005819:Genetic Markers