Image analysis of immunohistochemistry is superior to visual scoring as shown for patient outcome of esophageal adenocarcinoma

摘要: Quantification of protein expression based on immunohistochemistry (IHC) is an important step in clinical diagnoses and translational tissue-based research. Manual scoring systems are used order to evaluate staining intensities distribution patterns. However, visual remains inherently subjective approach. The aim our study was explore whether digital image analysis proves be alternative or even superior tool quantify membrane-bound proteins. We analyzed five membrane-binding biomarkers (HER2, EGFR, pEGFR, β-catenin, E-cadherin) performed IHC tumor tissue microarrays from 153 esophageal adenocarcinomas patients a single center study. cores were scored visually applying established routine system as well by using obtaining continuous spectrum average intensity. Subsequently, we compared both assessments survival end point. There no significant correlations with patient E-cadherin, HER2. In contrast, the results for approach indicated that there associations disease-free HER2 (P = 0.0125, P 0.0014, 0.0299, 0.0096, respectively). For greater association when (visual: 0.0045, analysis: < 0.0001). this scoring. Digital more sensitive and, therefore, better able detect biological differences within tissues accuracy. This increased sensitivity improves quality quantification.