title: Utilization of Cell-Transfer Technique for Molecular Testing on Hematoxylin-Eosin-Stained Sections: A Viable Option for Small Biopsies That Lack Tumor Tissues in Paraffin Block.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  - In some instances the standard method of doing molecular testing from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded block is not possible because of limited tissue. Tumor cell-enriched cell-transfer technique has been proven useful for performing immunocytochemistry and molecular testing on cytologic smears.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  - To establish the cell-transfer technique as a viable option for isolating tumor cells from hematoxylin-eosin (H&E)-stained slides.
  
  
  METHODS
  - Molecular testing was performed by using the cell-transfer technique on 97 archived H&E-stained slides from a variety of different tumors. Results were compared to the conventional method of molecular testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  - Polymerase chain reaction-based molecular testing via the cell-transfer technique was successfully performed on 82 of 97 samples (85%). This included 39 of 47 cases for EGFR, 10 of 11 cases for BRAF, and 33 of 39 cases for KRAS mutations. Eighty-one of 82 cell-transfer technique samples (99%) showed agreement with previous standard method results, including 4 mutations and 35 wild-type alleles for EGFR, 4 mutations and 6 wild-type alleles for BRAF, and 11 mutations and 21 wild-type alleles for KRAS. There was only 1 discrepancy: a cell-transfer technique with a false-negative >KRAS result (wild type versus G12C).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  - Molecular testing performed on H&E-stained sections via cell-transfer technique is useful when tissue from cell blocks and small surgical biopsy samples is exhausted and the only available material for testing is on H&E-stained slides.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.
authors.forename: Howard H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jovonovich
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Randolph
authors.forename: Kristin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Post
authors.forename: Joyashree D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Kendra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Curless
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000483:Alleles; D001706:Biopsy; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D009154:Mutation; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010994:Pleura / Q000473:pathology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016707:Tissue Fixation
chemical_list: C117307:KRAS protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)