Use of mixture of xylean Clear-Rite^TM3 as an alternative reagent and alcohol for tissue delipidation with an auto tissue processor

Abstract

<Introduction> We investigated the use of xylean Clear-Rite^TM3 as an alternative reagent for tissue delipidation with an auto tissue processor. <Method> Nine breast cancer specimens totally resected from February to June 2017 were used. We prepared specimens for histopathological diagnosis (A) and specimens for routine examination (B). The A specimens were delipidated with acetone in a shaker for three hours, whereas the B specimens were delipidated with Clear-Rite^TM3 and alcohol mixed with a reagent in an auto tissue processor for three hours. Subsequently, we examined the effect of delipidation on the slice graft using the automatic slice device AS-400M and the immunohistochemical staining of ER/PgR/HER2 IHC and HER2 FISH staining. <Results> The A specimens showed higher TG levels than the B specimens (p = 0.0156). In all 154 blocks, the slice success rates with the automatic slice device and the HE stainability were similar. The ER/PgR results were concordant (100%), but the HER2 IHC results in two cases were not concordant（2/9, 22.2%). The A specimens showed a false-positive result. In those two cases, there was no amplification in HER2 FISH. <Conclusion> The mixture solution of xylean Clear-Rite^TM3 as the alternative reagent and alcohol had sufficient delipidation effects. The auto tissue processor enabled rapid delipidation. The risk from exposure to organic solvents was reduced.