New techniques in gene product analysis

Abstract

Many of the new technologies that have developed as a result of advances in cellular and molecular biology, genetics, and immunology have had a major impact in clinical medicine and will continue to provide important diagnostic and investigative tools in the future. The ability to localize a wide variety of gene products in tissues has been accomplished largely through the use of immunohistochemistry. Characterization of gene expression at the levels of specific messenger RNAs and genomic DNAs is now possible through the use of both blot and in situ hybridization techniques. These molecular biological technologies provide important new approaches for understanding the pathobiology of disease and for providing more objective and rational diagnostic and prognostic criteria in biopsy specimens. The pathologist is in a unique position to coordinate, implement, and lead efforts utilizing these new methods for the study of human disease. In addition, the pathologist must assume a leadership role in the assessment of the efficacies of the new technologies in resolving specific clinical problems and in providing novel approaches for clinical and basic research.