TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract

2. Introductory statement

3. The key preparatory steps

3.1. Fixative

3.1.1. Protease digestion

3.1.2. Definition of optimal protease digestion

3.1.3. Definitions of suboptimal and over-digestion

3.1.4. DNase digestion

3.1.5. Direct incorporation of the reporter nucleotide

4. A one step protocol for RT in situ PCR

5. Applications of RT in situ PCR Matrix metalloprotease expression in cancer as a model for RT in situ PCR

5.1. MMP and TIMP expression in cervical cancer

6. Concluding remarks

7. References

8. Entire manuscript