ENHANCED THERMAL STRATERGY FOR RAPID ANTIGEN UNMASKING IN BREAST TISSUE FOR IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY ANALYSIS.

Abstract

Introduction: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is critical for breast cancer diagnosis, with antigen retrieval being a crucial step that affects diagnostic accuracy. Traditional pressure cooker methods suffer from variability and inefficiency, prompting the need for automated solutions.

Methods: This experimental study conducted at Saveetha Medical College compared a novel automatic thermal processor (ATP) with traditional pressure cooker methods for antigen retrieval in 50 breast cancer cases. The study evaluated estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2neu marker detection efficiency, staining intensity, and diagnostic turnaround time between both methods.

Results: The ATP method demonstrated significantly higher detection rates for both ER (70% vs. 58%, p=0.031) and PR (70% vs. 50%, p=0.041) compared to the pressure cooker method. Staining intensity was significantly improved with the ATP method for both ER (p=0.035) and PR (p=0.036). The ATP also reduced diagnostic turnaround time by 28.6% (25 minutes vs. 35 minutes, p=0.001).

Discussion: The ATP provided superior antigen retrieval through precise temperature control, consistent heating, and automation, addressing the limitations of traditional methods. This innovation significantly improves diagnostic efficiency and accuracy in pathology workflows, particularly for hormone receptor assessment in breast cancer.