RAP-PCR Using RNA from Tissue Microdissection

Cell culture provides powerful models for studying cell biology, but many pathologic states cannot be appropriately studied without tissue-based approaches. We have developed a tissue-based microdissection method for molecular analysis and have chosen premalignant breast disease for study. This approach requires methods for selective isolation and enrichment of particular cell types to prevent trivial results gained by comparison of tissue samples that differ in percent epithelial cells, presence of inflammatory cells, and so on.