Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded antigen retrieval techniques

Shi S-R, Liu C, Taylor CR. Standardization of immunohistochemistry for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections based on the antigen retrieval technique from experiments to hypothesis. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 2007 55 105-109. 

To suggest a set of directions for future research in antigen retrieval requires that one first state the objective(s) toward which that research is directed. There are a number of important research directions that are deserving of attention, two of which we will consider here—(1) the recovery of unmodified proteins in native conformation from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue and (2) the development of new techniques for assessing the quantity and functional state of tissue proteins recovered from FFPE tissue. 

Shi SR, Key ME, Kalra KL (1991) Antigen retrieval in formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissues an enhancement method for immunohistochemical staining based on microwave oven heating of tissue sections. J Histochem Cytochem 39 741 748 Shi SR, Cote RJ, Taylor CR (2001) Antigen retrieval techniques current perspectives. J Histo chem Cytochem 49 931 938... 

The enhanced peroxidase one-step (EPOS) method is considered superior to standard ABC technique in that the former is more sensitive than the latter. It is known that the Ki-67 antibody can only be used on fresh or frozen tissues, whereas the monoclonal antibody MIB-1, developed against a part of the Ki-67 antigen molecule, can be used on sections of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues using antigen retrieval. Recently, EPOS Ki-67 antibodies were developed which consist of antibody molecules and horseradish peroxidase bound covalently to dextran (Bisgaad et al., 1993). This method has been applied for localizing PCNA and Ki-67 antigens (Tsutsumi et al., 1995). 

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