OFP-09-008 Color correction of immunohistochemistry stained tissue section images by histogram transfer according to control tissues S. Sarioglu * , S. Seyrek, M. Sakar * Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey Objective: For semiquantitative and quantitative analysis, previous normalization attempts of images of tissue sections are not satisfactory. In this study we evaluated, if color correction can be achieved by histogram transfer depending upon control tissue image (CTI) differences. Method: Images from colon and placenta sections stained by anti-CD34 were used as CTI and/or sample tissue images (STI). Thirty-four but one (standard stained slide with images sCTI and sSTI), was stained for different durations and dilutions than the standard procedures. Digital images taken by a CCD camera connected to a light microscope without normalization was stored at a computer. Software was prepared in order to find the histogram difference between two CTIs and transfer the difference to the STI for achieving a corrected STI (corSTI). sSTI (one image) and STI and corSTI (34 images each) were semiquantitatively scored by two observers in blind fashion and the STI and corSTI scores were compared with sSTI score. Results: The wKappa was 0,59 for two observers. The STI semiquantitative score was same as the sSTI in 23,5 % of the STI but this was 76,35 % for corSTI. Conclusion: It seems histogram transfer depending upon CTIs may be a valuable tool for color correction of tissue section images. Sunday, 9 September 2012, 14.15 -16.15 Objective: There is a crucial need for identification of markers to choose the best treatment schedule and monitor the effectiveness of treatment in metastatic melanoma (MM) . The detection of circulating tumor cells (CTC) correlates with prognosis in different cancer subtypes. CTC can be detected by direct and indirect methods such as cytopathological approach, RT-PCR or immunomagnetic separation using the CellSearch (CS) method. Method: From June 2011 to December 2011, blood was drawn from 27 patients with MM and 10 controls patients and processed into 72 h by the CS method. The primary end-point was the overall survival (OS) of MM patients. Results: Enumeration of at least 1 CMC was effective in 61.5 % of patients with MM (n=16) and in 20 % of controls patients (n=2). Nine patients (35 %) had ≥ 2CMC. None of the controls patients had more than one CMC. Mean OS time was 5.6 months among patients with MM and <2 CMC (n=8) and mean OS time was 1.7 months among patients with MM and CMC ≥2 (n=26) (p=0.002). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that detection of CMC correlates with OS in melanoma. Thus, CMC monitoring should be developed to ensure the best treatment follow-up for patients with MM.