Our laboratory has recently developed novel strategies to characterize the detailed composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM). As only limited antibodies for diagnostic application on formaldehyde-fixed and paraffin-embedded tumor samples exist, I am currently testing commercial available antibodies against several of these ECM signature proteins.

This image presents a section through the human uterine wall. The upper area shows mucus-producing glandular cells (red) lining the uterus. Smooth muscle bundles appearing in different orientations can be seen in green preferentially in the lower part. Visualized in blue are the nuclei of the individual epithelial, smooth muscle and surrounding connective tissue cells.