Description

A variety of molecular techniques can be used to investigate diseases by analyzing protein, DNA, and RNA. Flow cytometry, Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), histology and immunohistochemistry are assays which can identify specific cell populations and provide valuable information regarding the pathologic characteristics of those populations. Flow cytometry analyzes the surface markers of cells. Histology and immunohistochemistry further characterize surface and cellular molecules and aid in the diagnosis of certain skin diseases. Gene expression profiling allows investigators to examine the genes detectable to determine the function of the cells involved, and PCR techniques are useful for the diagnosis of certain conditions and for DNA analysis.

By procuring blood, skin tissue, and swab samples from patients with and without neoplastic and inflammatory skin disorders at the time of their appointments, the hypothesize that future translational research can be conducted on such specimens using the aforementioned techniques to further understand disease mechanisms in cutaneous disorders, and to potentially discover defective function and genetic mutations within cells from patients with neoplastic and inflammatory skin disorders. By establishing a tissue bank, we aim to lay the foundation for future work that will improve our understanding of the biology and natural history of neoplastic and inflammatory cutaneous diseases.