Peroperative frozen section analysis of TTF-1 antigen expression.
BACKGROUND
The assessment of thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) expression is a useful way to investigate the origin of lung adenocarcinomas or large cell carcinomas when dealing with a solitary lung nodule in a patient with a history of extrathoracic cancer. However, if immunohistological analysis has not been performed before surgery, a peroperative frozen section may be insufficient to distinguish between a primary pulmonary tumour and a metastatic tumour.


OBJECTIVE
To develop a technique for the rapid assessment of TTF-1 expression that could improve the ability of frozen section peroperative histological diagnosis to answer such questions.


METHODS
A rapid immunohistochemical technique (lasting 30 minutes) to assess the expression of TTF-1 was developed and tested.


RESULTS
Among the 45 interpretable cases, results of frozen section immunohistochemistry were similar to those found by the standard immunohistochemical technique for the expression of TTF-1.


CONCLUSIONS
This technique enables TTF-1 to be analysed peroperatively, but further prospective studies are needed to assess its usefulness in routine practice.
Camilleri-Broet
S
S
Service d'Anatomie Pathologique et Unité de Chirurgie Thoracique, Hotel-Dieu, 1, Place Du Parvis Notre Dame, Cedex 75181, Paris, France. sophie.camilleri-broet@htp.ap-hop-paris.fr
Alifano
M
M
Morcos
M
M
Comperat
E
E
Magdeleinat
P
P
Marmey
B
B
Molina
T J
TJ
Régnard
J-F
JF
Audouin
J
J
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C000614412:NKX2-1 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors