Evidence-Based Supplement & Herb Guides

OCT4 IHC Test: Germ Cell Tumor Marker, Seminoma, Embryonal Carcinoma, and Positive Staining

Learn what an OCT4 IHC test means, how nuclear OCT4 staining supports seminoma or embryonal carcinoma, and why marker panels are needed for diagnosis.

The OCT4 IHC test is a tissue stain that helps pathologists identify certain germ cell tumors, especially seminoma and embryonal carcinoma. OCT4, also called...

p40 IHC Test: Squamous Cell Carcinoma Marker, Lung Tumor Typing, and Positive Staining

Learn what a p40 IHC test shows, why nuclear p40 supports squamous cell carcinoma, how it helps type lung tumors, and what positive or negative staining means.

The p40 immunohistochemistry (IHC) test is a tissue stain that helps pathologists identify squamous differentiation, especially when classifying poorly differentiated lung cancers. p40 is...

p53 IHC Test: Tumor Suppressor Marker, Abnormal Staining, and Cancer Subtype

Learn how p53 IHC is interpreted, what wild-type, overexpression, null, and cytoplasmic patterns mean, and how p53 helps classify tumors and infer TP53 status.

The p53 immunohistochemistry (IHC) test is a tissue stain that shows the pattern of p53 protein expression in tumor cells. Pathologists often use that...

p63 IHC Test: Squamous Cell Cancer, Urothelial Cancer, Tumor Origin, and Staining Meaning

Learn what p63 IHC staining means in squamous and urothelial cancer, how p63 highlights myoepithelial cells, and why p40 and other markers may be needed.

The p63 immunohistochemistry (IHC) test is a tissue stain used to identify a nuclear protein associated with basal cells, squamous differentiation, urothelial differentiation, and...

Pancytokeratin IHC Test: Epithelial Tumors, Carcinoma Marker, and Positive Staining

Learn what pancytokeratin IHC positive staining means, how broad keratin stains help identify carcinoma, and why additional markers are needed to determine tumor origin.

Pancytokeratin immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a broad tissue stain used to look for keratin proteins that are typical of epithelial cells. In a poorly differentiated...

PAX5 IHC Test: B-Cell Lymphoma Marker, B-Cell Lineage, and Tumor Classification

Learn how PAX5 IHC identifies B-cell lineage, what positive nuclear staining means in lymphoma, and why PAX5 must be interpreted with a full immunophenotypic panel.

The PAX5 IHC test is a tissue stain used mainly to identify B-cell lineage in lymphomas and other hematolymphoid neoplasms. PAX5 is a nuclear...

PAX8 IHC Test: Ovarian, Kidney, Thyroid Cancer Marker, and Tumor Origin

Learn what PAX8 IHC positive staining means and how PAX8 helps identify ovarian, kidney, and thyroid tumor origin when interpreted with a focused marker panel.

PAX8 immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a tissue stain that helps pathologists recognize tumors with Müllerian, renal, or thyroid follicular-cell differentiation. The PAX8 protein is a...

PLAP IHC Test: Germ Cell Tumor Marker, Seminoma Pattern, and Positive Staining

Understand what PLAP IHC positivity means, how PLAP supports seminoma and other germ cell tumors, and why modern marker panels are needed for accurate diagnosis.

The PLAP IHC test detects placental alkaline phosphatase-related protein in tissue and is used mainly as a supporting marker for germ cell tumors. PLAP...

Progesterone Receptor (PR) IHC Test: Breast Cancer Hormone Receptor Status and Positive Score

Learn how progesterone receptor (PR) IHC is scored in breast cancer, what PR positive and negative results mean, and how PR fits with ER and HER2 status.

The progesterone receptor (PR) immunohistochemistry (IHC) test measures PR protein in the nuclei of breast cancer cells. It is usually performed with estrogen receptor...

S100 IHC Test: Melanoma, Nerve Sheath Tumor Marker, and Positive Staining

Learn what S100 IHC positive staining means in melanoma and nerve sheath tumors, why S100 is sensitive but not specific, and which companion markers help confirm diagnosis.

The S100 immunohistochemistry (IHC) test is a sensitive tissue stain used in the diagnosis of melanoma, peripheral nerve sheath tumors, and several other neoplasms....

SALL4 IHC Test: Germ Cell Tumor Marker, Embryonal Pattern, and Positive Staining

Learn what SALL4 IHC positive nuclear staining means, which germ cell tumors express SALL4, key mimics, companion markers, and common interpretation pitfalls.

SALL4 immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a tissue stain used mainly to support germ cell differentiation in a tumor. SALL4 is a nuclear transcription factor associated...

SATB2 IHC Test: Colorectal Cancer Marker, Lower GI Tumor Origin, and Positive Staining

Understand SATB2 IHC positive staining, how it supports colorectal or lower-GI origin, why some tumors are negative, and which marker panels improve accuracy.

SATB2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a tissue stain that helps pathologists recognize colorectal and other lower gastrointestinal differentiation in a tumor. SATB2 is a nuclear...

SMAD4 IHC Test: Pancreatic Cancer Marker, Tumor Suppressor Loss, and Meaning

Learn what SMAD4 or DPC4 IHC loss means in pancreatic cancer, how retained and lost staining are interpreted, limitations, prognosis, and panel use.

SMAD4 immunohistochemistry (IHC), also called DPC4 IHC, is a tissue stain that shows whether tumor cells retain or lose detectable SMAD4 protein. SMAD4 is...

SOX2 IHC Test: Germ Cell Tumor, Squamous Cancer Marker, and Staining Meaning

Learn how SOX2 IHC is interpreted in embryonal carcinoma, seminoma differentials, and squamous cancer, including positive staining patterns, panels, and pitfalls.

SOX2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a nuclear tissue stain used in several different diagnostic settings rather than as a marker for one specific cancer. In...

SOX10 IHC Test: Melanoma, Nerve Sheath Tumor, Tumor Origin, and Positive Staining

Learn what SOX10 IHC positive nuclear staining means in melanoma and nerve sheath tumors, major non-melanoma pitfalls, companion markers, and limitations.

SOX10 immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a nuclear tissue stain that helps identify tumors showing melanocytic, Schwann-cell, or related neural-crest differentiation. It is widely used in...

Synaptophysin IHC Test: Neuroendocrine Tumor Marker, Positive Staining, and Tumor Classification

Learn what synaptophysin IHC positive staining means, how it supports neuroendocrine differentiation, how NETs and NECs are classified, and key pitfalls.

Synaptophysin immunohistochemistry (IHC) is one of the most widely used tissue stains for detecting neuroendocrine differentiation. Synaptophysin is a membrane protein found in small...

TTF-1 IHC Test: Lung Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Tumor Origin, and Positive Staining

Learn what TTF-1 IHC positive nuclear staining means in lung and thyroid cancer, how Napsin A and PAX8 help, and why false-positive or negative results occur.

TTF-1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a nuclear tissue stain used mainly to support pulmonary or thyroid differentiation in a tumor. TTF-1, also called NKX2-1, is...

Tumor Immunohistochemistry (IHC) Panel: Protein Markers, Tumor Origin, Cancer Type, and Diagnosis

Learn how tumor IHC panels use protein markers to establish lineage, narrow cancer origin, classify tumors, avoid pitfalls, and guide further molecular testing.

A tumor immunohistochemistry (IHC) panel is a group of tissue stains selected to identify a cancer’s lineage, subtype, and likely site of origin. Instead...

Villin IHC Test: Gastrointestinal Tumor Marker, Intestinal Differentiation, and Positive Staining

Learn what villin IHC positive staining means, how it supports intestinal and GI differentiation, common non-GI pitfalls, and why SATB2, CDX2, CK7, and CK20 matter.

Villin immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a tissue stain used to identify intestinal and gastrointestinal-type differentiation in tumors. Villin is an actin-binding protein concentrated in the...

WT1 IHC Test: Ovarian Cancer, Mesothelioma, Tumor Origin, and Positive Staining

Learn what WT1 IHC positive nuclear staining means in ovarian serous carcinoma and mesothelioma, how panels distinguish them, and which pitfalls matter.

WT1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a nuclear tissue stain with two major diagnostic uses: supporting serous Müllerian carcinoma, especially tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma, and supporting...