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 worldwide application for nearly a decade. This review focuses on several critical issues that may improve standardization of routine IHC and provides strategies for further development of the AR technique, eg, 'test battery' approach, re-evaluation of clinical significance, technical tips, and future goals. One strategy for further study of the AR technique is based on a hypothesis for the detection of molecular alteration of protein resulting from chemical modification, through which it may be possible to attain a greater understanding of the mechanisms of AR-IHC, thereby contributing to a new field of molecular morphology.