Methods in Histopathology: From Classical Techniques to Innovative In Situ Molecular Approaches

TOPICAL COLLECTIONS

Guest Editors

Elena Bonanno

University of Rome Tor Vergata

Prof. Elena Bonanno, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Anatomic Pathology at University of Rome Tor Vergata, and the Director of Cytohistopathology at Diagnostica Medica and Villa dei Platani (Neuromed Group - Avellino). Currently, she is internationally recognized for her contribution in the field of cancer diagnosis and research. In addition, Prof. Bonanno has made a significant contribution to the identification of pathological processes to the atheromatic plaque formation. Recently, the Bonanno’s group is studying ectopic calcifications and the osteotropism of breast and prostate cancer. From this research field Bonanno’s group advanced in the knowledge of breast and prostate cancer progression describing a new cancer cell type associated to both microcalcification production and bone metastasis formation, the “osteoblast-like cells”. In addition, Prof. Elena Bonanno has a long-term experience in management and quality control of clinical and research processes. She published more than 100 scientific papers and 4 chapters in book.

Rita Bonfiglio

University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Experimental Medicine

Dr. Rita Bonfiglio, Biologist, Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Master’s Degree in Medical Biotechnologies, PhD in Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine. Currently, she is a post-doctoral fellow and Subject Matter Expert in Anatomic Pathology at University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. Dr. Bonfiglio employs all basic and advanced techniques of the histological area (optical and electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, design, and construction of Tissue Micro arrays). In addition, she has experience in animal models of human diseases, small animal imaging studies as well as planning and execution of in vitro investigations. She has more of forty scientific papers in international peer review journals. Her main fields of interest includes Histological and ultrastructural characteristics of solid cancers; Osteotropism of breast and prostate cancers; In vivo models of human diseases; Small animal imaging and inflammatory disorders; Identifications of early in situ biomarkers of breast and prostate cancers; Cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of ectopic calcifications.

Collection Overview

Histopathological assessment, including cytological analyses, is still the gold standard for the diagnosis of many human diseases. In the last years the in situ evaluation of molecular and cellular biomarkers assumed a relevant role in the histopathological workflow. Indeed, applications such as in situ hybridization, RNA scope, next generation sequencing, and artificial intelligence algorithms applied to digital pathology are becoming a reality in Anatomic Pathology Departments. Often these approaches need to be integrated with the classical histopathological techniques or rather cytology, histology, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy. This Collection aims to highlight new applications of existing techniques as well as the innovative contribution of the more recent histopathological approaches.

The collection covers (but is not limited to) the following topics

New cytological methods for improving diagnostic accuracy
Application of RNA scope in situ multiplex assay
Digital Pathology
Algorithms for the evaluation of in situ prognostic and predictive biomarkers on digital slides
Integration of molecular pathology and histology (in situ hybridization, next generation sequencing)
Integration of molecular pathology to electron microscopy (in situ hybridization, immunogold labeling, microanalysis
Histological and molecular application of Tissue microarray (TMA)

The increasing available technical armamentarium in the histopathological field constitutes a promising possibility to advance and answer to the growing need of precision medicine approaches to human health. Thus, all researchers interested in the histopathological area are welcome to share their valuable contribution.