Lose their histoarchitecture and most cellular phenotype information during the collection process, e.g., many specific cell populations such as hyperplastic or premalignant cells cannot be studied. Recommendations Continued molecular characterization of normal, premalignant and tumor cells will improve the ability of flow cytometry to select these cells types for study based on molecular markers. Cytology Samples Pros Are collected through minimally invasive techniques. Can be easily collected in the clinical setting. Are available for study from large numbers of archival samples.
Cons Frequently contain only limited numbers of the cell populations of interest.
Have lost much of the in vivo tissue architecture and histopathology after the cells have been removed from the patient. Recommendations Same as microdissected cells and flow-sorted cells. Therefore, they can be factored into the data analysis. This situation will yield meaningful molecular profiling results, providing the resected sample has been appropriately acquired and processed. The changes are substantial and cannot be predicted reliably.