TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparison of formalin-free tissue fixatives a proteomic study testing their application for routine pathology and research
AU - Kothmaier, Hannelore
AU - Rohrer, Daniela
AU - Stacher, Elvira
AU - Quehenberger, Franz
AU - Becker, Karl Friedrich
AU - Popper, Helmut H.
PY - 2011/6
Y1 - 2011/6
N2 - Context.-Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue is the routine processing method for diagnostics practiced in pathology departments worldwide. Objective.-To determine the potential value of non-cross-linking, formalin-free tissue fixation for diagnostics in pathology and proteomic investigations. Design.-We tested 3 commercially available, formalinfree tissue fixatives - FineFIX, RCL2, and HOPE-in lung cancer specimens from 10 patients. The fixatives were evaluated for their effects on tissue morphology, protein recovery, and immunoreactivity for a selected panel of proteins differently expressed in lung cancer, using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Results.-Tumor-cell analysis with hematoxylin-eosin worked equally well for all tested fixatives when compared with the standard formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded procedure. Movat pentachrome stains showed comparable results for the different matrices and cellular proteins analyzed. The RCL2 (P = .01) and HOPE fixatives (P= .03) improved protein recovery when compared with formalinfixed, paraffin-embedded or frozen tissues. Our data clearly show that the fixatives evaluated influenced immunoreactivity to matched, formalin-fixed, paraffinembedded lung cancer tissue. In particular, membranebound proteins, such as epidermal growth factor receptor EGFR, can be detected more efficiently by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Conclusion.-We have demonstrated that formalin-free fixatives have the potential in routine pathology and research to replace formalin in histomorphology and protein preservation.
AB - Context.-Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue is the routine processing method for diagnostics practiced in pathology departments worldwide. Objective.-To determine the potential value of non-cross-linking, formalin-free tissue fixation for diagnostics in pathology and proteomic investigations. Design.-We tested 3 commercially available, formalinfree tissue fixatives - FineFIX, RCL2, and HOPE-in lung cancer specimens from 10 patients. The fixatives were evaluated for their effects on tissue morphology, protein recovery, and immunoreactivity for a selected panel of proteins differently expressed in lung cancer, using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Results.-Tumor-cell analysis with hematoxylin-eosin worked equally well for all tested fixatives when compared with the standard formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded procedure. Movat pentachrome stains showed comparable results for the different matrices and cellular proteins analyzed. The RCL2 (P = .01) and HOPE fixatives (P= .03) improved protein recovery when compared with formalinfixed, paraffin-embedded or frozen tissues. Our data clearly show that the fixatives evaluated influenced immunoreactivity to matched, formalin-fixed, paraffinembedded lung cancer tissue. In particular, membranebound proteins, such as epidermal growth factor receptor EGFR, can be detected more efficiently by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Conclusion.-We have demonstrated that formalin-free fixatives have the potential in routine pathology and research to replace formalin in histomorphology and protein preservation.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79958779505&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 21631267
AN - SCOPUS:79958779505
SN - 0003-9985
VL - 135
SP - 744
EP - 752
JO - Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
JF - Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
IS - 6
ER -
