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Updated: Aug 13, 2026
Automated Multiplex Immunofluorescence Panel for Immuno-oncology Studies on Formalin-fixed Carcinoma Tissue Specimens
Published on: January 21, 2019
Immunophenotyping of Nigerian cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas on paraffin sections
J O Thomas1, A Rafindadi, A Heryet
1Nuffield Department of Pathology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
Insights
Immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies is effective for diagnosing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Nigeria. Stored tissue samples are suitable for this diagnostic method, yielding useful results in most cases.
Area of Science:
- Hematopathology
- Immunohistochemistry
- Oncology
Background:
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) diagnosis relies on accurate tissue analysis.
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is crucial for classifying lymphoid neoplasms.
- Assessing diagnostic feasibility in resource-limited settings is important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of stored tissue samples from Nigeria for IHC.
- To determine the effectiveness of a monoclonal antibody panel for NHL subtyping.
- To assess the suitability of IHC for routine diagnostics in developing countries.
Main Methods:
- One hundred routinely processed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cases from Nigeria were analyzed.
- Immunostaining was performed using a panel of monoclonal antibodies targeting B-cell, T-cell, and macrophage antigens.
- Interpretable results were obtained for 87% of the cases.
Main Results:
- 75 cases were identified as B-cell neoplasms and 12 as T-cell neoplasms.
- No macrophage lineage tumors were detected.
- 9% of cases were unsuitable for IHC due to fixation/handling issues, while 4% showed reactive but not neoplastic cell staining.
Conclusions:
- A three-antibody panel is suitable for routine IHC on conventionally fixed tissues in developing countries.
- IHC can provide diagnostically useful information in approximately 95% of NHL cases from such settings.
- Stored tissue is a viable resource for retrospective IHC studies in resource-limited regions.
Abstract:
One hundred cases of routinely fixed and processed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from Nigeria were immunostained with a small panel of monoclonal antibodies against B-, T- and macrophage antigens. The aims of the study were to assess the suitability of stored material from a country like Nigeria for immunohistochemical examination and the ability of the antibody panel to evaluate the distribution of B- and T-cell neoplasms. Eighty-seven of the 100 cases gave interpretable immunostaining, with 75 being B-cell and 12 T-cell neoplasms. Eighty-seven of the 100 cases gave interpretable immunostaining, with 75 being B-cell and 12 T-cell neoplasms. There were no tumours of macrophage lineage. Four cases gave satisfactory staining of reactive lymphoid cells but no reactivity with malignant cells and thus were not phenotyped. The remaining nine cases gave no staining of neoplastic or reactive cells, suggesting that they were unsuitable for immunohistochemical study, presumably because of inappropriate fixation and handling. We concluded that a panel of three monoclonal antibodies is suitable for routine immunostaining of conventionally fixed and processed blocks in Third World countries and will give diagnostically useful information in approximately 95% of cases.
