Tumor Tissue Sectioning Protocol

To determine whether an organ is a tumor lesion, a pathological section is required. Only through tumor pathology section examination can the nature of the tumor, whether it is benign or malignant, be clarified. After the removal of benign tumor, the tumor will not recur and no further follow-up treatment is necessary. However, malignant tumors often need follow-up treatment after resection, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, so pathological examination is very important in clinical examination.

• Make 2% agarose using low-gelation temperature agarose or using the agarose tablets. Mix with PBS buffer to dissolve.
• Dissect and excise the tumor, and wash with PBS.
• Glue the tumor specimen to the specimen tube, then embed with 2% agarose solution. Cool immediately with the pre-chilled chilling block to solidify the agarose gel.

• Load the specimen tube containing the tumor tissue onto the vibratome and begin cutting using normal procedures. The agarose that surrounds the tumor will help hold it in place and allow the tumor to be sectioned with minimal displacement.
• For fixed tumor slices, place tumor slices in 4% paraformaldehyde for at least 24 hours, then rinse with PBS before further experimental processing.
• For live tumor slices, immerse tumor slices in PBS for at least 10 min, then incubate per your own experimental protocols.

• Pre-chill the chilling block for 10 min in the freezer or in ice water.
• Tumor stiffness measurements can be performed on fresh or snap frozen samples. Fresh tissues represent the tumor microenvironment better but require the experimentalist to measure tissue mechanics on the same day as the surgery takes place.

Tumor Cells

Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) Service

Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Immunofluorescence (IF) Service