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Why Multiplex Immunohistochemistry Is Good for Your Research
- Eghosa Arovo
- 9 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Get more data from every slide: why multiplex IHC is a game-changer for tissue research.
Introduction
In modern tissue and cancer research, one of the biggest challenges is extracting as much meaningful information as possible from limited and valuable samples. This is where multiplex immunohistochemistry (IHC) makes a real difference.
Instead of staining one protein per slide, multiplex IHC allows you to visualise multiple antigens on the same tissue section, each detected using a different chromogen or label. This simple shift dramatically increases the amount of data you can generate from each piece of tissue.
In this blog, we explain—clearly and practically—why multiplex IHC is so powerful for histology research.
What is multiplex IHC?
In standard single-plex IHC, one antibody is used to detect one protein target, usually visualised using a brown DAB chromogen. If you want to study four markers, you need four serial sections.
In multiplex IHC, multiple antibodies are applied sequentially to the same tissue section. Each antibody is revealed using a different chromogen (for brightfield microscopy) or fluorophore (for fluorescence microscopy). This makes it possible to see several proteins at once while preserving tissue structure and spatial relationships.(Abcam, 2023)
1. You get more data from limited tissue
Human biopsies, small animal tissues, and organoid samples are often scarce and precious. Multiplex IHC allows you to:
Study multiple biomarkers using a single tissue section
Preserve material for future experiments
Reduce the need for repeated sectioning and restaining
For translational cancer research and rare clinical samples, this advantage alone makes multiplex IHC extremely valuable.
2. You preserve true spatial context
Serial sections can only approximate where markers are located relative to each other. Small differences in section depth can distort interpretation.
With multiplex IHC, all markers are visualised on the same section, so you can see exactly:
Which cells co-express multiple proteins
Which immune cells are adjacent to tumour cells
How stromal, immune, and epithelial compartments interact
This spatial context is critical for studying the tumour microenvironment, immune infiltration, fibrosis, and angiogenesis.(Fridman et al., 2012)
3. You can detect co-expression directly (“1 + 1 = 3”)
In chromogenic multiplex IHC, two colours can visually overlap and form a third colour. This makes co-localisation easy to spot without complex software.
For example:
Yellow = epithelial cells
Red = proliferating cells
Orange = proliferating epithelial tumour cells
This simple visual effect—often described as “1 + 1 = 3”—turns co-expression into something you can see instantly.
4. You improve biological interpretation
Multiplex IHC allows you to ask more advanced biological questions, such as:
Are proliferating tumour cells also expressing a drug target?
Are immune checkpoint markers present on tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes?
Which stromal cells are activated in fibrotic or invasive regions?
Instead of analysing each marker in isolation, multiplex IHC reveals relationships between markers, leading to deeper and more accurate conclusions.
5. You save time, cost, and reagents
Although multiplex staining can seem more complex, it often reduces overall workload because:
Fewer sections are needed
Fewer slides are processed and scanned
Fewer reagents are used across a project
This makes multiplex IHC particularly efficient for large cohort studies, TMAs (tissue microarrays), and biomarker screening projects.(Maiques et al., 2022)
Why multiplex matters for cancer and tissue research
Multiplex IHC is especially powerful in:
Cancer immunology
Tumour microenvironment studies
Fibrosis and stromal research
Drug response and biomarker discovery
Translational and cohort-based studies
These fields depend not just on whether markers are present—but on where they are and how they interact.
How LabNexus supports multiplex histology research
At LabNexus, we provide research-only histology services for cancer and tissue researchers across London and the UK, including:
Multiplex chromogenic IHC
A full chromogen palette:Red, Purple, Teal, Blue, Green, Yellow, DAB, and Silver
Tissue processing, embedding, and sectioning
Slide scanning for digital and quantitative analysis
Optional TMA construction for high-throughput studies
All staining is performed using our state-of-the-art Ventana Benchmark platforms, ensuring reproducibility, excellent signal-to-noise ratios, and consistent turnaround times.
We offer fast turnaround, affordable pricing, and expert scientific support—without the need for you to run your own histology facility.
Please note: LabNexus provides histology services for research purposes only. We do not process diagnostic samples.
Conclusion
Multiplex immunohistochemistry transforms histology from a one-marker-at-a-time technique into a high-information tissue analysis platform.
It allows you to:
Extract more data from limited tissue
Preserve spatial relationships between biomarkers
Visualise co-expression directly
Improve biological interpretation
Streamline research workflows
If you’re ready to elevate your tissue research with multiplex staining, LabNexus is here to help.
References
All samples presented were processed, embeded, cut and stained by LabNexus and lab partners.
Abcam. Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC): technical overview.https://www.abcam.com/en-us/knowledge-center/immunohistochemistry/multiplex-immunohistochemistry-mihc
Fridman, W.H. et al. (2012). The immune contexture in human tumours: impact on clinical outcome. Nature Reviews Cancer, 12, 298–306.
Maiques, O. et al. (2022). Multiplex chromogenic immunohistochemistry to stain and analyse two markers in paraffin tissue sections. MethodsX, 9, 101788.
Bancroft, J.D., & Gamble, M. (2020). Theory and Practice of Histological Techniques (8th ed.). Elsevier.