The usefulness of the cell transfer technique for immunocytochemistry of fine‐needle aspirates

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The use of immunocytochemistry as an important ancillary technique for the workup of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens is an important component in the daily practice of cytopathology. Although cell block preparations are commonly used, immunocytochemistry cannot be completed if the cell blocks are hypocellular. As an alternative approach when conventional cell blocks fail, immunocytochemistry can be performed on cell-transferred direct smears.Multiple immunostains can be applied to a single direct smear using the cell transfer technique (CTT). METHODS: A retrospective review of all FNA cases performed at the study institution over a 3-year period was conducted. All cases in which CTT was used for immunocytochemistry were identified. The contribution of CTT to the final diagnosis in these cases was assessed. RESULTS: CTT was used in 152 of the 11,259 FNAs performed. A total of 431 immunocytochemistry stains, including 46 different antibodies, were performed using CTT. In 118 of 150 cases, the immunocytochemistry results contributed significantly to the final diagnosis. It provided no added value in the remaining 32 cases and failed in 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS:CTT is a very useful tool for the workup and diagnosis of FNA specimens when conventional cell blocks lack adequate cellularity. Although CTT was used in only 1.4% of FNA cases in the current study, it contributed to the final diagnosis in 79% of the cases in which it was used. For these patients, CTT reduced the need for repeat FNAs, thereby reducing potential patient morbidity and health care costs. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2014;122:898-902.

Utilization of Cell-Transfer Technique for Molecular Testing on Hematoxylin-Eosin–Stained Sections: A Viable Option for Small Biopsies That Lack Tumor Tissues in Paraffin Block

“…[10][11][12][13] In this study, we confirmed its utility to capture sufficient tumor cell DNA for molecular testing if the tissue-embedded paraffin block lacks material. Biopsy samples or fine-needle aspiration cell blocks may only contain a minimal amount of tumor tissue and could be exhausted after the initial routine H&E sections and immunohistochemistry studies.…”

“…[10][11][12][13][14][15][16] This technology can also be applied to hematoxylin-eosin (H&E)-stained sections when the cells of interest are exhausted from the paraffin block. In this study we simply set out to establish the CTT as a viable option for isolating tumor cells from H&E-stained slides.…”

Hormone Receptor Assessment of Metastatic Breast Carcinoma by Fine Needle Aspiration Utilizing Cell Blocks and Cell Transfer Techniques: An Immunocytochemical Review of 163 Consecutive Cases

“…However, cell blocks sometimes lack adequate cellularity even when the direct smears are abundantly cellular. The cell transfer technique is a very useful method for obtaining cellular material for immunostaining and molecular testing if conventionally prepared cell blocks lack adequate cellularity [8,[14][15][16][17][18][19]. In our study 15% (24/163) of breast biomarker studies were performed on the cell-transferred smears that otherwise would not have been performed due to inadequate cellularity in the cell block.…”

“…In addition to ER, PR, and HER2, we can perform GATA3 or mammaglobin ICC on a single cellular smear using the cell transfer technique to confirm the tumor origin from a breast primary. One important limitation to the use of CTT is that only ethanol-fixed direct smears can be used, as air-dried, methanol-fixed slides have previously been shown to have a false negative rate of approximately 30% and also often demonstrate nonspecific background staining [16].…”

Expressions of Thyroid Transcription Factor-1, Napsin A, p40, p63, CK5/6 and Desmocollin-3 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, as Revealed by Imprint Cytology Using a Malinol-Based Cell-Transfer Technique

“…This is useful for cytology specimens, including fine-needle aspirations, in which important or crucial cells may be present on one slide only [17]. In our study, we used touch-preparation specimens of surgically resected NSCLC, and therefore cell blocks were not available.…”