Diagnostic classic immunohistochemistry (IHC) is an essential tool in modern clinical pathology for accurate disease diagnosis and patient management. It employs highly specific antibodies to detect and visualize protein markers within formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections. The ability of IHC to provide spatial and cellular context to molecular expression makes it invaluable for identifying tumor types, determining tissue origin in metastatic cancers, and confirming infectious agents in tissue samples. Its widespread use in clinical diagnostics underscores its critical role in pathology labs worldwide.
Key Diagnostic Applications
Classic diagnostic IHC involves antigen-antibody binding visualized by chromogenic detection, enabling pathologists to interpret protein expression patterns in histological structures. Key diagnostic applications include:
- Confirming cancer cell lineage and tumor subtype, which directs prognosis and therapy choice
- Identifying prognostic and predictive biomarkers such as hormone receptors (ER, PR) and HER2 in breast cancer
- Detecting pathogens or disease-specific proteins in infectious and inflammatory conditions
- Supporting diagnosis of soft tissue tumors and brain neoplasms with specific molecular markers.
