Breast Cancer Specialty Testing

Breast Cancer Specialty Testing

At HPA, our advanced molecular testing services support a commitment to research and

development in order to provide timely, cost effective patient care. Our breast cancer prognostic indicators are developed in-house, many the result of funded research programs, and based on rigorous quality assurance programs exceeding those available in commercial		Dual-laser Coulter Elite flow cytometer
reference laboratories. We take particular pride in the high-quality integrated testing we are able to perform.

Hormone Receptor
Analysis

Immunochemical analysis of paraffin-embedded tumor. Image cytometry is employed for semi-quantitative result. Data are available in femtomolar equivalents by request.

Tumor Cell
Proliferation
Analysis

Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry, with ploidy and S-phase fraction (%S) determination. A sophisticated multiparameter method developed by HPA pathologists, employing cytokeratin-gating of tumor nuclei extracted from paraffinized tissue ( McCormick, et al, AJCP, in press).

Proliferation (cycling) fraction by immunochemical (clone MIB-1) staining and image analysis. Accuracy is assured by a rigorous control method employing cultured cell lines. Patient data is carefully correlated with morphologic grade by an HPA pathologist.

Oncoproteins

Her2/neu protein. Overexpression is detected by immunochemistry, with microscopic assessment.

P53 mutation detection. A sophisticated panel of technologies is available for detection of P53 gene mutations, including molecular screening methods developed by HPA pathologists (requiring air-dried tumor imprints). For paraffin-embedded tumor, immunochemistry utilizing a cocktail of monoclonal antibodies is used. (McCormick, et. al. (abstract), International Academy of Pathology, Orlando, FL, 1997).

Additional oncoprotein markers: Cathepsin D and BCL-2, among others, are available, but not recommended for routine use. Inquiries welcomed.

Angiogenesis
(Vessel Density)

Experimental use only. HPA pathologists have developed a unique assay using immunochemistry (CD34) and image analysis. Inquiries welcomed. See our abstract (Schrauth and McCormick) at the International Society of Cytometry, Colorado Springs, CO, 2/98.

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