How to make tissue microarrays

It has been 10 years since tissue microarrays were described by Kononen et al. for the first time. Since then, this high-throughput method has been adopted by many investigators across the world. Sections from tissue microarrays are used for cost-effective and rapid molecular profiling of tissue samples from large patient cohorts, in particular in the field of cancer research. Different applications of tissue microarrays are reviewed and an in-depth discussion provided of the importance of tissue microarray design, quality control and the technical aspects of its construction. Advantages and disadvantages of this modern technology are described. Drawing on our own experiences, potential problems are highlighted and practical solutions are offered.