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Immunohistochemistry in the Study of Cancer Biomarkers for Oncology Drug Development

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Technical Aspects of Toxicological Immunohistochemistry

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Abstract

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays can identify tumor biomarkers and provide valuable information for oncology drug development. This chapter describes the basic IHC assay step by step to identify target proteins and assess protein expression levels and subcellular localization. The steps are tissue preparation, fixation, selection of antibody and controls, detection system, counterstain, coverslip, score, and troubleshooting. The chapter also discusses the use of IHC assays in cancer biomarker studies, in particular the application of a multi-fluorophore labeling technique to study tumor vasculature in preclinical human xenograft tumor models for antiangiogenic drug development, and the use of an immunocytochemistry (ICC) assay on circulating tumor cell isolated from clinical samples. The study data demonstrate that IHC assays provide important information for cancer biomarker studies, illuminating the mechanisms of action for oncology drugs. IHC arrays are indispensable tools in histogenic assessment and biomarker development.

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Acknowledgement

The authors thank Dr. Neela X. Patel for thoughtful suggestions and editing on this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Discovery, Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abbott Laboratories, AP10, 100 Abbott Park Road, Abbott Park, IL, 60064, USA

    Fang Jiang & Evelyn M. McKeegan

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  1. Fang Jiang
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Correspondence to Fang Jiang .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Health Products and Food Branch Health Canada, Regulatory Toxicology Research Division Food Directorate, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    Syed A. Aziz

  2. Health Products and Food Branch Health Canada, Regulatory Toxicology Research Division Food Directorate, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    Rekha Mehta

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Jiang, F., McKeegan, E.M. (2016). Immunohistochemistry in the Study of Cancer Biomarkers for Oncology Drug Development. In: Aziz, S., Mehta, R. (eds) Technical Aspects of Toxicological Immunohistochemistry. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1516-3_5

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