Regular Article

British Journal of Cancer (1999) 79, 464–471. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6690072 www.bjcancer.com
Published online 14 January 1999

Quantification of tumour vasculature and hypoxia by immunohistochemical staining and HbO2 saturation measurements

B M Fenton1, S F Paoni1, J Lee2, C J Koch3 and E M Lord2

  1. 1Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY, USA
  2. 2Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
  3. 3Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Correspondence: BM Fenton, Box 704, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA

Received 1 October 1997; Revised 10 March 1998; Accepted 13 March 1998.

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Abstract

Despite the possibility that tumour hypoxia may limit radiotherapeutic response, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. A new methodology has been developed in which information from several sophisticated techniques is combined and analysed at a microregional level. First, tumour oxygen availability is spatially defined by measuring intravascular blood oxygen saturations (HbO2) cryospectrophotometrically in frozen tumour blocks. Second, hypoxic development is quantified in adjacent sections using immunohistochemical detection of a fluorescently conjugated monoclonal antibody (ELK3-51) to a nitroheterocyclic hypoxia marker (EF5), thereby providing information relating to both the oxygen consumption rates and the effective oxygen diffusion distances. Third, a combination of fluorescent (Hoechst 33342 or DiOC7(3)) and immunohistological (PECAM-1/CD31) stains is used to define the anatomical vascular densities and the fraction of blood vessels containing flow. Using a computer-interfaced microscope stage, image analysis software and a 3-CCD colour video camera, multiple images are digitized, combined to form a photo-montage and revisited after each of the three staining protocols. By applying image registration techniques, the spatial distribution of HbO2 saturations is matched to corresponding hypoxic marker intensities in adjacent sections. This permits vascular configuration to be related to oxygen availability and allows the hypoxic marker intensities to be quantitated in situ.

Keywords:

image analysis, angiogenesis, blood vessels, tumour oxygenation, oxyhaemoglobin, hypoxic marker

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