Abstract
Individual cells are prepared from histological tissue sections of routinely formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues using an ultraviolet laser micromanipulator. This technology, in combination with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based gene analysis, will enable researchers to routinely detect a variety of nucleic acid abnormalities underlying cancer, infection, and genetic disease with previously unknown sensitivity: at the single cell level. The utility of this technique is demonstrated by PCR amplification and sequencing of the E-cadherin gene, which codes for a homophilic cell-to-cell adhesion molecule, in early gastric carcinomas of the diffuse type of Lauren’s classification. The main characteristics of the laser-assisted microdissection technique are high precision without contamination and easy application. The assignment of individual gene sequences to single cells will now provide a direct link between molecular biology on the one hand and histology and pathology on the other.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Accepted: 18 August 1997
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Becker, I., Becker, KF., Röhrl, M. et al. Laser-assisted preparation of single cells from stained histological slides for gene analysis. Histochemistry 108, 447–451 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004180050185
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004180050185