Newer developments in immunohistology

• Published in: Journal of clinical pathology 2006-11, Vol.59 (11), p.1117-1126
• Main Authors: Leong, A S-Y, Leong, T Y-M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ALK; AMACR; anaplastic large-cell lymphoma kinase; Antibodies - immunology; Antigens; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - immunology; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Cell cycle; Cell Cycle Proteins - analysis; Cell Cycle Proteins - immunology; Cell growth; chronic myeloid leukaemia; CML; COX; Cyclin-dependent kinases; cyclo-oxygenase; EGFR; epidermal growth factor receptor; FISH; fluorescence in situ hybridisation; gastrointestinal stromal tumour; Genomes; GIST; HPV; Human papillomavirus; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Immunohistochemistry - methods; Immunohistochemistry - trends; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Kinases; Laboratories; Localization; MALT; Medical prognosis; Medical sciences; microsatellite instability; Morphology; MSI; mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue; Neoplasms - diagnosis; Neoplasms - genetics; Neoplasms - therapy; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; PDGFR; platelet-derived growth factor receptor; PNET; pRb; primitive neuroectodermal tumour; Proteins; retinoblastoma protein; reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction; Review; RT-PCR; somatostatin receptor; SSTR; TFE3; transcription factor 3 gene; Tumors; Wilms’s tumour 1 gene; WT-1; α-methylacyl-CoA racemase
• ISSN: 0021-9746; 1472-4146
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.2005.031179

The development of sensitive reagents and detection systems, together with the introduction of heat-induced antigen retrieval, has rapidly entrenched immunohistology as an indispensable adjunct to routine histological examination, contributing to diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. New antibodies continue to be produced and new applications for “old” antibodies are described. The production of antibodies enabling the detection of genetic abnormalities, including mutations, gene amplifications and specific chromosomal translocations associated with novel chimeric proteins, promises to yield further insights into the genesis and behaviour of tumours. The ability to stain for target molecules that regulate tumour growth and proliferation is essential for selecting tumours for treatment with monoclonal antibodies. The mechanism of antigen retrieval remains debated. The absence of optimal controls continues to hinder standardisation of immunostaining and invalidates current attempts at quantification of immunostaining.