Immunohistochemical examination (IHC) is an additional method of tissue examination, which is used in the diagnosis of benign and malignant neoplasms, when diagnosis by histological preparations is not possible or clarification of clinically important molecular parameters of the tumor is required.
What problem does it solve?
IHC is prescribed when it is impossible to make a final diagnosis based on the results of histology, because the tumor has an extremely nonspecific microscopic structure;
identification of proteins specific to a particular type of cell in the analyzed tissue sample, which makes it possible to distinguish one type of tumor from another;
evaluation of the effectiveness of the treatment and prevention of malignant tumors in practical oncology;
identification of markers responsible for drug sensitivity of tumor tissue;
determination of the possibility of specialized (targeted) treatment in patients with oncological diseases;
identification of hereditary predisposition to the disease: molecular genetic studies of a number of genes responsible for the development of hereditary and sporadic forms of tumors are performed:
breast/ovarian;
thyroid gland;
organs of the gastrointestinal tract;
melanomas;
retinoblastoma and other children’s embryonic tumors;
a number of hereditary oncological syndromes.
In what cases is it used?
conducting a routine histological examination of a biopsy is not enough to make a final diagnosis
determination of cancer markers for early cancer diagnosis, for the choice of treatment regimen;
final (less often intermediate) diagnosis of the tumor process (various types of cancer, soft tissue sarcomas, melanoma, lymphoma and leukemia typing);
determining the prognosis of the disease based on the clarification of the degree of malignancy of the tumor (e.g., neuroendocrine tumor);
for differential diagnosis of tumors and non-tumor processes;
to determine the organ affiliation of metastasis with an unknown primary localization (not applicable for all tumors!);
to differentiate multiple tumor processes (the presence of 2 or more different tumors in the patient).
Advantages:
conducting research on modern diagnostic equipment
conducting a wide range of molecular genetic studies,
performing molecular genetic studies of a number of genes responsible for the development of hereditary and sporadic forms of breast / ovarian tumors, thyroid gland, gastrointestinal tract organs, melanoma, retinoblastoma and other pediatric embryonic tumors, a number of hereditary oncological syndromes.
all employees of the laboratory have certificates that allow them to work in the system of practical healthcare, have completed internships in leading foreign institutions engaged in genetic testing for oncological diseases.
the analysis of the tumor of each individual patient and the formation of an individual list of potential target molecules
is a full range of modern molecular genetic studies for cancer patients and their relatives.