Immunohistochemical detection of EGFR in paraffin-embedded tumor tissues: variation in staining intensity due to choice of fixative and storage time of tissue sections

J Histochem Cytochem. 2004 Jul;52(7):893-901. doi: 10.1369/jhc.3A6195.2004.

Abstract

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is highly expressed in a variety of solid malignant tumors and its expression has been correlated with disease progression and poor survival. With the advent of targeted therapies, especially IMC-C225 (Cetuximab), a monoclonal antibody (MAb) directed against the EGFR, there is an increasing interest in immunohistochemistry (IHC)-based EGFR screening methods using paraffin-embedded tumor specimens to select cancer patients eligible for treatment with Cetuximab. With the EGFRpharmDX kit, a complete assay for demonstration of EGFR is now available. Because no information about the preservation of the EGFR under various conditions of fixation is available, we performed a prospective study on a panel of commonly used fixatives to determine optimal tissue preservation protocols. The stability of the epitope on cut tissue sections stored for a period up to 24 month was also tested using material originating from patients with head and neck cancer, non-small-cell lung carcinomas, and colorectal adenocarcinomas. Depending on the fixative used and the time of storage of cut tissue sections, a variation in the determined level of EGFR expression was demonstrated compared with the most optimal fixation procedure.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Fixatives
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Paraffin
  • Specimen Handling*
  • Staining and Labeling
  • Time Factors
  • Tissue Embedding

Substances

  • Fixatives
  • Paraffin
  • ErbB Receptors