HOPE - a novel tool for the pathologist

Vol. 45 No. Cumulative Issue 1999-2004, 2004

ROMANIAN JOURNAL of MORPHOLOGY and EMBRYOLOGY

E. Vollmer, J. Galle, R. Sen Gupta, T. Goldmann

The growing demand for the detection of prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers by application of molecular-biological techniques has been slowed down to a large degree by the use of formalin and its influence onto antigenic structures and nucleic acids, although other reasons also exist. With regard to morphology a limitation in the possibilities, compared to frozen sections, takes place. With the introduction of the HOPE (Hepes glutamic acid buffer mediated Organic solvent Protection Effect) -fixation to date both have become possible; substantially enlarged possibilities concerning the detection of DNA, RNA and proteins in combination with excellent morphological results comparable to formalin-fixed tissues. We also highlight some aspects from our lung specific work during the last years. Immunohistochemical markers for differential diagnostics of malignancies in the lungs are discussed; their enhanced detectability using the HOPE-technique is pathbreaking for the future. The same holds true for the substantially enhanced detectability of germs (e.g. mycobacteria) in HOPE-fixed tissues.

Corresponding author: Ekkehard Vollmer, MD, PhD, e-mail: evollmer@fz-borstel.de

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