The role and mechanism of high-temperature antigen retrieval in diagnostic pathology

Immunocytochemistry has become an essential adjunct to surgical pathological analysis. Its contributions range across diagnostic, prognostic and predictive applications. Its wide ranging success is based on the ready availability of antibodies to biologically important molecules. However, the effective applicability of many of these antibodies directed at cell surface or nuclear antigens is hampered by the loss of tissue antigenicity caused by formalin fixation, the most common method used for preservation of tissue morphology. In this review, the efficacy and versatility of heat-mediated antigen retrieval method to reverse the deleterious effects of formalin fixation are discussed in order to highlight the enormous role it has played in promoting wider applicability of immunocytochemistry to diagnostic histopathology.     

Contribution of immunocytochemistry in routine diagnostic cytology

The authors report the experience of applying immunocytochemistry in routine cytological examination and its contribution for diagnosis during a period of 3 yr in Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan. From August 1991 to July 1994, the cytology laboratory received 5,762 non-gynecologic specimens with urine excluded. Immunocytochemistry was performed selectively in problematic cases. A total of 215 stainings including 124 epithelial markers, 50 lymphoma/leukemia markers, 22 neuroglial and choroid plexus markers, seven mesenchymal markers, six melanoma markers, and six others was performed on 145 specimens consisting of 89 effusions, 28 fine-needle aspirations, 11 cerebrospinal fluids, and 17 other specimens. Effusions were by far the most frequent specimens for immunocytochemistry and the epithelial markers were the most frequently used antibodies. The immunocytochemical results were essential in 41 specimens (28%), confirmatory in 37 (26%), and non-contributory in 67 (46%). Essential and confirmatory results occurred in 49% of effusions (44/89), 71% of fine-needle aspirations (20/28), 55% of cerebrospinal fluids (6/11), and 47% of other specimens (8/17). It is concluded that immunocytochemistry is proved to be a good aid for the final diagnosis of daily cytologic practices in which the fine-needle aspiration specimens are benefitted best. Diagn Cytopathol 1996;14:221–225. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Modern methods for diagnostic immunocytochemistry

Immunocytochemistry has become an important diagnostic tool. The reliability or otherwise of the technique depends upon attention to detail and the optimization of every step in what is sometimes a complex technical procedure. This article outlines basic theory and practice for the most commonly used procedures. It highlights the problems of endogenous biotin staining and avidin–biotin-based detection methods. Labelled polymer based methods are explained and compared with other commonly used detection methods. Recent advances in high-sensitivity methodology are discussed.     

Applications of immunocytochemistry to diagnostic cytopathology

Immunohistochemical technique is now successfully applied to the cytologic materials. This review article describes details of staining procedures for immunocytochemistry at both light and electron microscopic levels. The clinical application of the technique includes aspiration biopsy cytology for breast lesions, thyroid lesions, lymph nodes, the nervous system, and others. The establishment of carcinoma cells in the body fluid by the demonstration of carcinoembyronic antigen (CEA) and the establishment of specific diagnoses in small-cell or large-cell anaplastic tumors by immunocytochemistry warrants special emphasis.     

下一代诊断病理学

随着人类基因组测序、生物大数据信息分析、分子病理检测和人工智能辅助病理诊断等技术进步及其应用, 临床医学发展迈向精准诊疗时代。这一时代背景下, 传统诊断病理学迎来前所未有的历史机遇, 正在向下一代诊断病理学(next-generation diagnostic pathology)迈进。下一代诊断病理学以病理形态和临床信息为诊断基础, 以分子检测与生物信息分析、智慧制样与流程质控、智能诊断与远程会诊、病灶活体可视化与无创病理诊断等创新前沿交叉技术为主要特征, 以多组学和跨尺度整合诊断为病理报告内容, 实现对疾病的最后诊断, 并预测疾病演进和结局、建议治疗方案和评估治疗反应, 形成新的疾病诊断金标准。未来, 需要激发病理学科创新活力, 加快下一代诊断病理学成熟和应用, 重塑病理学科理论和技术体系, 发挥诊断病理学在疾病防、诊、治、养等过程中的重要作用, 促进临床医学进一步发展, 服务健康中国战略。