The problem is doctors have never had the right tools to extract the cells from the tissue, leaving them with no good way to confirm their observation while the tumor is in its early stages and most treatable. That is until now. In the Nov. 8 Science, a team of researchers at NIH reports on a powerful new technique, called laser capture microdissection, that can pull out a small cluster of cells from a tissue sample in as little as 8 seconds. By taking these cells directly from the tissue, the scientists say they can immediately analyze the cells' gene and enzyme activity with other research tools. Currently, scientists must attempt to extract, or microdissect, cells either by trying to yank them free with a manual tool or through a convoluted process of isolating and culturing the cells.
Most scientists say they consider both approaches to be tedious, time-consuming, and inefficient.
According to NCI's Dr. Lance Liotta, senior author of the paper, direct access to cells should lead to a revolution in the understanding of the molecular basis of cancer and other diseases, helping to lay the groundwork for earlier and more precise disease detection.