Methods: Laser Capture Microdissection

Isolation of Tumor Cells from Prostatectomy Specimens
A new & simple method has been developed by NIH and commercialized by Arcturus in which cells are isolated from conventional paraffin and frozen tissue sections.

The tissue is covered with a rigid plastic sheet (coated on one side with a thermal- labile film).

A pulse of low-energy laserlight goes off.

The thermal labile film (illuminated by the laser beam—120 to 75 in diameter) is melted.

The melted film diffuses among the cells, dries, and “glues” them to the cover slip (laser capture microdissection).

The isolated cells are used for RNA preparation free from stromal, vascular, inflammatory cells, blood cells, etc.

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