Chapter 11
PROTOCOL
Formalin-Fixed and Paraffin-Embedded Tissue Sections
HARALD RIEDER, CHRISTINE SOMMERLAD, YASMIN MEHRAEIN,
MARINA GIERSBERG, KERSTEN MARBEN, and HELGA REHDER
Introduction
In situ hybridization in tissue sections has primarily been associated with
RNA analysis in gene expression studies. More recently, in situ DNA hybridization in tissue sections has also gained increasing importance. The
tissue context allows the correlation of specific genetic and morphological
characteristics which is not possible by genetic analysis on a single cell
level, e.g. in metaphase preparations or isolated interphase nuclei. Different cell types may be distinguished and malignant cells may be differentiated from non-malignant cells by genetic as well as morphological criteria.
The maintenance of the original tissue context may also be of fundamental importance when tissue areas carry different genetic markers - a
situation often found in tumors.
A major advantage of this technique is the use of formalin-fixed and
paraffin-embedded archival material, allowing the investigation ofcases in
which vital cells for conventional cell culture and metaphase chromosome
~ Harald Rieder, Klinikum der Philipps-Universitat, Institut mr Klinische Genetik,
Zentrum mr Humangenetik, BahnhofstraBe 7, Marburg, 35033, Germany
(phone +49-6421-28-62986; fax +49-6421-28-63984; e-mail riederh@mailer.unimarburg.de)
Christine Sommerlad, Klinikum der Philipps-Universitat, Institut mr Klinische
Genetik, Zentrum flir Humangenetik, BahnhofstraBe 7, Marburg, 35033, Germany
Yasmin Mehraein, Klinikum der Philipps-Universitat, Institut mr Klinische Genetik,
Zentrum mr Humangenetik, BahnhofstraBe 7, Marburg, 35033, Germany
Marina Giersberg, Klinikum der Philipps-Universitat, Institut mr Klinische Genetik,
Zentrum mr Humangenetik, BahnhofstraBe 7, Marburg, 35033, Germany
Kersten Marben, Klinikum der Philipps-Universitat, Institut mr Klinische Genetik,
Zentrum mr Humangenetik, BahnhofstraBe 7, Marburg, 35033, Germany
Helga Rehder, Klinikum der Philipps-Universitat, Institut mr Klinische Genetik,
Zentrum mr Humangenetik, BahnhofstraBe 7, Marburg, 35033, Germany
PROTOCOL
Formalin-Fixed and Paraffin-Embedded Tissue Sections
HARALD RIEDER, CHRISTINE SOMMERLAD, YASMIN MEHRAEIN,
MARINA GIERSBERG, KERSTEN MARBEN, and HELGA REHDER
Introduction
In situ hybridization in tissue sections has primarily been associated with
RNA analysis in gene expression studies. More recently, in situ DNA hybridization in tissue sections has also gained increasing importance. The
tissue context allows the correlation of specific genetic and morphological
characteristics which is not possible by genetic analysis on a single cell
level, e.g. in metaphase preparations or isolated interphase nuclei. Different cell types may be distinguished and malignant cells may be differentiated from non-malignant cells by genetic as well as morphological criteria.
The maintenance of the original tissue context may also be of fundamental importance when tissue areas carry different genetic markers - a
situation often found in tumors.
A major advantage of this technique is the use of formalin-fixed and
paraffin-embedded archival material, allowing the investigation ofcases in
which vital cells for conventional cell culture and metaphase chromosome
~ Harald Rieder, Klinikum der Philipps-Universitat, Institut mr Klinische Genetik,
Zentrum mr Humangenetik, BahnhofstraBe 7, Marburg, 35033, Germany
(phone +49-6421-28-62986; fax +49-6421-28-63984; e-mail riederh@mailer.unimarburg.de)
Christine Sommerlad, Klinikum der Philipps-Universitat, Institut mr Klinische
Genetik, Zentrum flir Humangenetik, BahnhofstraBe 7, Marburg, 35033, Germany
Yasmin Mehraein, Klinikum der Philipps-Universitat, Institut mr Klinische Genetik,
Zentrum mr Humangenetik, BahnhofstraBe 7, Marburg, 35033, Germany
Marina Giersberg, Klinikum der Philipps-Universitat, Institut mr Klinische Genetik,
Zentrum mr Humangenetik, BahnhofstraBe 7, Marburg, 35033, Germany
Kersten Marben, Klinikum der Philipps-Universitat, Institut mr Klinische Genetik,
Zentrum mr Humangenetik, BahnhofstraBe 7, Marburg, 35033, Germany
Helga Rehder, Klinikum der Philipps-Universitat, Institut mr Klinische Genetik,
Zentrum mr Humangenetik, BahnhofstraBe 7, Marburg, 35033, Germany