An Introduction to Laser-Based Tissue Microdissection Techniques -- Microdissection and DNA Analysis -- Methacarn Fixation for Genomic DNA Analysis in Microdissected Cells -- Multiplex Quantitative Real-Time PCR of Laser Microdissected Tissue -- comparative Genomic Hybridization Using DNA From Laser Capture Microdissected Tissue -- Detection of Ki-ras and p53 Mutations by Laser Capture Microdissection/PCR/SSCP -- Whole-Genome Allelotyping Using Laser Microdissected Tissue -- Microdissection for Detecting Genetic Aberrations in Early and Advanced Human Urinary Bladder Cancer -- Laser Microdissection for Microsatellite Analysis in Colon and Breast Cancer -- Assessment of RET/PTC Oncogene Activation in Thyroid Nodules Utilizing Laser Microdissection Followed by Nested RT-PCR -- Combined Laser-Assisted Microdissection and Short Tandem Repeat Analysis for Detection of In Situ Microchimerism After Solid Organ Transplantation Ulrich Lehmann, Anne Versmold, and Hans Kreipe -- RNA and Gene Expression Studies Using Microdissected Cells -- Laser-Assisted Microdissection of Membrane-Mounted Tissue Sections -- Laser-Assisted Microdissection of Membrane-Mounted Sections Following Immunohistochemistry and In Situ Hybridization -- Laser-Assisted Cell Microdissection Using the PALM System -- Laser Microdissection and RNA Analysis -- Gene Expression Profiling of Primary Tumor Cell Populations Using Laser Capture Microdissection, RNA Transcript Amplification, and GeneChip® Microarrays -- 16 Quantification of Gene Expression in Mouse and Human Renal Proximal Tubules -- Laser Capture Microdissection for Analysis of Macrophage Gene Expression From Atherosclerotic Lesions -- Analysis of Pituitary Cells by Laser Capture Microdissection -- Microdissection Techniques And Applications In Proteomics -- Laser Capture Microdissection and Colorectal Cancer Proteomics -- Proteomic Analysis of Human Bladder Tissue Using SELDI® Approach Following Microdissection Techniques -- Microdissection And Molecular Analysis Of Microorganisms -- Genetic Analysis of HIV by In Situ PCR-Directed Laser Capture Microscopy of Infected Cells -- Use of Laser Capture Microdissection Together With In Situ Hybridization and Real-Time PCR to Study Distribution of Latent Herpes Simplex Virus Genomes in Mouse Trigeminal Ganglia -- Laser Capture Microdissection and PCR for Analysis of Human Papilloma Virus Infection -- Laser Capture Microdissection of Hepatic Stages of the Human Parasite Plasmodium falciparum for Molecular Analysis.

Use of laser microdissection has grown enormously to become a very powerful high-throughput technology essential to a range of downstream applications in pathology, cancer research, life sciences, medical diagnostics, and biotechnology. In Laser Capture Microdissection, expert laboratory researchers noted for their optimized methods describe in step-by-step detail not only how to successfully carry out tissue-based laser microdissection in their own laboratories using the different systems available, but also how to apply a wide range of sophisticated molecular technologies to the microdissected tissue samples. These readily reproducible methods make it possible to carry out contamination-free molecular analyses of specific types of normal and diseased cells. Highlights include gene expression profiling of primary tumor cell populations, RNA transcript amplification and GeneChip® microarrays, colorectal cancer proteomics, and proteomic analysis of human bladder tissue using the SELDI® approach. Applications of the microdissected tissue described encompass PCR, gene expression studies including microarray analysis, and proteomics. The protocols follow the successful Methods in Molecular Biology™ series format, each offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principle behind the technique, lists of the necessary equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and state-of-the-art, Laser Capture Microdissection provides a highly practical guide to successful tissue-based laser microdissection using available commercial systems and to the interpretation of the results using a wide range of sophisticated molecular technologies.