Tissue Microarray for Routine Analysis of Breast Biomarkers in the Clinical Laboratory

• Published in: American journal of clinical pathology Vol. 132; no. 6; pp. 899 - 905
• Main Authors: THOMSON, Thomas A, CHEN ZHOU, CHU, Christina, KNIGHT, Bryan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL American Society of Clinical Pathologists 01.12.2009
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - genetics; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating - genetics; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating - metabolism; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating - pathology; Clinical Laboratory Techniques - economics; DNA, Neoplasm - genetics; Female; Genes, erbB-2; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Observer Variation; Pathology, Clinical - economics; Pathology, Clinical - methods; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Reproducibility of Results; Specimen Handling - economics; Specimen Handling - methods; Tissue Array Analysis - methods; Tumors; Immunohistochemistry; Costs; Breast tumors; Breast tumor; Biological marker; Routine analysis; Biological indicator; Tissue microarray; Laboratory; Mammary gland diseases; Anatomic pathology; Tissue microarrays; Health economy; Cost savings; Quality control; Breast; Biomarkers; Economic aspect; Mammary gland
• ISSN: 0002-9173; 1943-7722
• DOI: 10.1309/AJCPW37QGECDYCDO

Tissue microarray analysis (TMA) allows multiple analyses on multiple patients on sections from a single paraffin block. Although it is widely used in research and in quality assurance settings, there are few references to its use in clinical practice. This study evaluated TMA assessment of breast biomarkers using immunohistochemical analysis in a clinical histopathology laboratory. Performance parameters, interobserver variability, and concordance between TMA and whole section results were assessed. The arrays had few lost or noninformative cores. A loss of stain intensity occurred in the arrays compared with the whole sections with some but not all antibodies, highlighting the need to validate the staining protocol for each antibody used on TMA sections. With recommended guidelines for specimen selection and reporting, TMA was found to be an economical replacement for whole section analysis for breast biomarkers.