Standardization and further development of antigen retrieval immunohistochemistry: Strategies and future goals

The antigen retrieval (AR) technique has proven to be a simple, effective, and reliable method for routine immunohistochemistry (IHC) based upon world wide application for nearly a decade. This review focuses on several critic al issues that may improve standardization of routine IHC and provides stra tegies for further development of the AR technique, eg, "test battery" appr oach, re-evaluation of clinical significance, technical tips, and future go als. One strategy for further study of the AR technique is based on a hypot hesis for the detection of molecular alteration of protein resulting from c hemical modification, through which it may be possible to attain a greater understanding of the mechanisms of AR-IHC, thereby contributing to a new fi eld of molecular morphology.