A review of the applications of tissue microarray technology in understanding the molecular features of endometrial carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To review the literature regarding the use of tissue microarray (TMA) technology in understanding the biology, diagnosis and prognosis of endometrial carcinoma (EC).


METHODS
This review of TMA technology in EC was based on a large number of published articles. We focused on the use of TMA technology as a tool to gain insight in endometrial carcinogenesis and to validate data obtained from DNA microarrays, proteomics and cellular models.


RESULTS
We summarized the technical aspects of the 37 articles that were reviewed. The number of EC cases in each series varied from 32-485 (median, 128). The number of cores ranged from 1-4 (median, 2), and the size of the cores ranged from 0.6-2 mm (median, 0.6 mm). Only 3 studies applied fluorescence in situ hybridization technology, while the remaining 34 studies used immunohistochemistry.


CONCLUSIONS
TMA can help to establish new prognostic markers and to define protein biomarkers that help in differential diagnosis.
Pallares
Judit
J
Department of Pathology and Molecular Genetics, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, University of Lleida, IRBLLEIDA, Lleida, Spain.
Santacana
Maria
M
Puente
Soraya
S
Lopez
Susana
S
Yeramian
Andree
A
Eritja
Nuria
N
Sorolla
Anabel
A
Llobet
David
D
Dolcet
Xavier
X
Matias-Guiu
Xavier
X
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D040901:Proteomics; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
D015415:Biomarkers