Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for predicting the response to a HER2-directed therapy and for scoring a breast cancer tumor sample. In some embodiments, the methods include contacting the sample with an antibody that specifically binds HER2 protein and detecting presence and/or amount of HER2 protein and contacting the sample with a nucleic acid probe that specifically binds to HER2 genomic DNA and detecting presence and/or amount of HER2 genomic DNA (such as HER2 gene copy number). In some embodiments, the methods further include detection of a centromere nucleic acid (such as chromosome 17 centromere DNA) and contacting the sample with an antibody that specifically binds ER protein and detecting presence and/or amount of ER protein in the same sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and kit for detection of two or more target molecules in a single tissue sample, such as for gene and protein dual detection in a single tissue sample. Methods comprise treating a tissue sample with a first binding moiety that specifically binds a first target molecule. Methods further comprise treating the tissue sample with a solution containing a soluble electron-rich aromatic compound prior to or concomitantly with contacting the tissue sample with a hapten-labeled binding moiety and detecting a second target molecule. In one example, the first target molecule is a protein and the second is a nucleic acid sequence, the first target molecule being detected by immunohistochemistry and the second by in situ hybridization. The disclosed method reduces background due to non-specific binding of the hapten-labeled specific binding moiety to an insoluble electron rich compound deposited near the first target molecule.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and kit for detection of two or more target molecules in a single tissue sample, such as for gene and protein dual detection in a single tissue sample. Methods comprise treating a tissue sample with a first binding moiety that specifically binds a first target molecule. Methods further comprise treating the tissue sample with a solution containing a soluble electron-rich aromatic compound prior to or concomitantly with contacting the tissue sample with a hapten-labeled binding moiety and detecting a second target molecule. In one example, the first target molecule is a protein and the second is a nucleic acid sequence, the first target molecule being detected by immunohistochemistry and the second by in situ hybridization. The disclosed method reduces background due to non-specific binding of the hapten-labeled specific binding moiety to an insoluble electron rich compound deposited near the first target molecule.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and kit for detection of two or more target molecules in a single tissue sample, such as for gene and protein dual detection in a single tissue sample. Methods comprise treating a tissue sample with a first binding moiety that specifically binds a first target molecule. Methods further comprise treating the tissue sample with a solution containing a soluble electron-rich aromatic compound prior to or concomitantly with contacting the tissue sample with a hapten-labeled binding moiety and detecting a second target molecule. In one example, the first target molecule is a protein and the second is a nucleic acid sequence, the first target molecule being detected by immunohistochemistry and the second by in situ hybridization. The disclosed method reduces background due to non-specific binding of the hapten-labeled specific binding moiety to an insoluble electron rich compound deposited near the first target molecule.