Tissue Microarray Applications in Colorectal Cancer Studies
Summary
Tissue microarray (TMA) technology has transformed colorectal cancer research by enabling simultaneous analysis of hundreds of tissue samples under uniform experimental conditions. In this approach, minute cylindrical cores are extracted from donor paraffin-embedded tumour blocks and arrayed within a new recipient block, allowing high-throughput immunohistochemical and in situ hybridisation assays. TMAs facilitate the rapid screening of prognostic and predictive biomarkers, including mismatch repair status, oncogene expression and immune infiltrate composition, while preserving precious archival specimens. Advances in digital pathology and automated arraying have improved sampling precision and reproducibility. By mapping tumour centre, invasion front and microenvironmental niches, TMAs contribute to a deeper understanding of spatial heterogeneity and its impact on treatment response. This cost-effective platform underpins large-scale translational studies, accelerates biomarker validation and supports personalised medicine strategies in colorectal cancer globally.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Tissue Microarray Applications in Colorectal Cancer Studies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in tissue microarray applications in colorectal cancer studies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Tissue microarray (TMA): A paraffin block containing multiple tissue cores arrayed for concurrent analysis.
Immunohistochemistry (IHC): A staining technique that uses antibodies to detect specific antigens in tissue sections.
Mismatch repair (MMR): A DNA repair system whose deficiency in colorectal cancer provides prognostic and therapeutic information.
Next-generation tissue microarray (ngTMA): An advanced TMA workflow integrating digital pathology for precise annotation and automated core extraction.
References
- Next-generation tissue microarray (ngTMA) increases the quality of biomarker studies: an example using CD3, CD8, and CD45RO in the tumor microenvironment of six different solid tumor types. Journal of Translational Medicine (2013).
- Overview on Techniques to Construct Tissue Arrays with Special Emphasis on Tissue Microarrays. BioTech (2014).
- Constructing high-density tissue microarrays with a novel method and a self-made tissue-arraying instrument. Pathology - Research and Practice (2023).
- Tissue microarrey: a potential cost-effective approach for mismatch repair testing in colorectal cancer. BMC Gastroenterology (2022).
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.