Abstract A method for detecting a biological marker in a sample, preferably a biological marker on a
cancer cell, the method comprising: (i) contacting the sample with at least one
DNA aptamer coupled to a first
reagent and wherein the
aptamer specifically binds to a first biological marker in the sample to form a first complex; (ii) contacting the first complex of (i) with a second binding agent that specifically binds to the first
reagent such that a second complex is formed, wherein the second binding agent is coupled to a reporter molecule; (iii) contacting the second complex (ii) with a substrate for the reporter molecule of the at least one second binding agent; and (iv) detecting the substrate reaction by formation of a
reaction product thereby detecting the biological marker in the sample. Biological markers include
cytokeratin 8 (CK8),
cytokeratin 18 (CK18),
human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and
epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). Abstract 41 / 50 FIGURE 40 Frozen section preparation 4
Sample fixation + Wash (10 dips in PBS)
DNA aptamer staining DAB Substrate DAB substrate HRP FAM Anti-FITC conjugated with HRP FAM
DNA Aptamer conjugated with FAM HRP Frozen section slide / Touch imprint slide /
Cytology slide / Direct smear slide Anti-FITC-HRP Wash (10 dips in PBS) DAB Wash (10 dips in PBS) Hematoxylin counter-
staining Wash under
tap water Cove rs lip DAB brown precipitate at the location of the aptamer B o min 1 min 15 sec 5 min 15 sec 5 min 15 sec 5 min 15 sec 10 sec 1 min 1 min A + Wash (10 dips in PBS) Total time for aptamer-DAB
staining: —18 min 4 1 / 5 0 A B 1 0 m i n 1 m i n D A B s u b s t r a t e 1 5 s e c H R P A n t i - F I T C 5 m i n D N A a p t a m e r s t a i n i n g H R P 1 5 s e c 5 m i n 1 5 s e c D N A A p t a m e r c o n j u g a t e d w i t h F A M 5 m i n D A B W a s h ( 1 0 d i p s i n P B S ) F r o z e n s e c t i o n s l i d e / T o u c h i m p r i n t s l i d e / C y t o l o g y s l i d e / D i r e c t s m e a r s l i d e c o u n t e r - s t a i n i n g 1 m i n W a s h u n d e r t a p w a t e r 1 m i n C o v e r s l i p F I G U R E 4 020 25 28 36 33 19 D ec 2 02 5 1 9 D e c 2 0 2 5 A B 1 0 m i n F r o z e n s e c t i o n p r e p a r a t i o n 1 m i n S a m p l e f i x a t i o n D A B 2 0 2 5 2 8 3 6 3 3 s u b s t r a t e 1 5 s e c W a s h ( 1 0 d i p s i n P B S ) H R P A n t i - F I T C 5 m i n D N A a p t a m e r s t a i n i n g H R P 1 5 s e c 5 m i n A n t i - F I T C - H R P T o t a l t i m e f o r 1 5 s e c D N A A p t a m e r W a s h ( 1 0 d i p s i n P B S ) c o n j u g a t e d w i t h F A M 5 m i n D A B s t a i n i n g : ~ 1 8 m i n W a s h ( 1 0 d i p s i n P B S ) F r o z e n s e c t i o n s l i d e / T o u c h i m p r i n t s l i d e / 1 0 s e c H e m a t o x y l i n C y t o l o g y s l i d e / D i r e c t s m e a r s l i d e c o u n t e r - s t a i n i n g 1 m i n W a s h u n d e r t a p w a t e r 1 m i n C o v e r s l i p F I G U R E 4 0