Elastase reduces background autofluorescence in ALK fluorescence in situ hybridization assays for lung cancers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors have been effective in treating non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) with ALK translocation. However, high background autofluorescence in lung tissues interferes with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays, masking molecular probe signals and hindering data interpretation.

Materials and methods

To reduce autofluorescence, NSCLC tissue sections were treated with various proteases, including collagenase types I, II, IV, and elastase, to determine the most effective enzyme. We then conducted ALK break-apart FISH assays on 120 NSCLC samples, comparing standard and novel pretreatment protocols.

Results

Elastase was identified as the most effective enzyme for reducing autofluorescence while preserving nuclear i

SUBMITTER: Hsu SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12702313 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature