Cases with a disagreement of both investigators on the immunoreactive score were discussed using a multiheaded microscope until consensus was achieved.
Conflicting results were resolved using a multiheaded microscope.
The immunostainings were evaluated by two genitourinary pathologists blinded for patient outcome using a multiheaded microscope.
Cases with disagreement were discussed using a multiheaded microscope until agreement was achieved.
Whenever there were some discrepancies in the evaluation between observers, a consensus was reached using a multiheaded microscope.
A final agreement was obtained for each score by using a multiheaded microscope (Olympus BX51 10 headed microscopes).
In cases of disagreement (n=6 for COX-2 expression and N=13 for Met expression) consensus was reached after re-evaluation by the investigators using a multiheaded microscope.
Those cases, in which disagreement in IRS score evaluation between both observers was evident, were discussed using a multiheaded microscope, until agreement was achieved.
When independent scoring of a case differed, the case was rechecked, and the final score was determined by recounting HIF-1α positive nuclear staining cells using a multiheaded microscope with both reviewers simultaneously viewing the slides.
Immunoexpression of EMP2 was scored by two pathologists (C-FL and H-YH) using a multiheaded microscope to reach a consensus for each case without prior knowledge of clinical and follow-up information.
ELISA against Pfs25 was performed according to a standardized protocol using a reference serum.
