Retrieval of p53 Protein in Paraffin-Embedded Head and Neck Tumor Tissues

Objectives: To improve the detection of p53 protein in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded head and neck tumor tissues. Design: Cohort. Setting: University and Veterans Administration medical centers. Patients or Other Participants: Retrospective samples. Intervention: Surgery for head and neck carcinoma. Main Outcome Measure: Retrieval of p53 antigen. Hypothesis formulated after data collection. Results: An antigen retrieval method facilitated the unmasking of previously inaccessible p53 antigenic determinants in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. This approach has made possible a much more reliable and sensitive immunohistochemical detection of p53 antigen. The procedure is simple, requiring only microwave heating of tissue sections to 100°C in the presence of a zinc sulfate solution. Conclusions: Antigen retrieval method in formalinfixed, paraffin-embedded tissue demonstrated a significant increase in p53 immunostaining. (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1993;119:1206-1209)