Oncological diseases are the most terrible reality for the vast majority of people. But in order to identify a serious problem in time and begin to effectively get rid of it, it is necessary to conduct special examinations. One of them is the IHC study.
Genes, receptors and growth factors
The exact reasons that cause cells to actively divide, forming neoplasms, often with an oncological focus, are still unknown to science. But how cell growth occurs has already been studied quite well. Tissue cells have a complex structure. There are so-called HER-2 receptors on the cell surface. They serve as a kind of antennas that listen to the commands of the body. By the way, the abbreviation HER-2 originates from the English phrase human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, which literally means "human epidermal growth factor receptor". It is these receptors that make the cell divide, grow or repair itself.
Active work of the receptor and tumor
Unfortunately, the human body does not always work as it should ideally, without failures and diseases. While science does not know exactly why, it happens that HER-2 receptors begin to activelyreceive commands to "share and multiply". And since these cellular elements are very executive, they force the cells to actively divide, forming a tumor. Only medical examinations, including the IHC study, can determine the status of the neoplasm, as well as the prognosis for the treatment and life of the patient.
Tumor gene status
Oncological formations by modern medicine will be determined by the status of the influence of hormone therapy. This status can be negative (negative) or positive (positive). The IHC study helps to specify the nature of the neoplasm. What does immunohistochemistry show? This study helps to establish the hormonal dependence of the neoplasm - hercept status, and therefore, to choose the right treatment method in order to get an effective result.
Negative and positive
The fact that the hormonal Hercept status of a tumor is called "positive" or "negative" will tell a competent doctor a lot. But by themselves, these definitions do not apply to emotions, as a simple layman who first heard about the ICG study might think. The identified positive Hercept status indicates that this type of cancer is more aggressive, it develops faster, spreading throughout the body by metastasis. But at the same time, such a malignant tumor with a high level of probability will respond to certain types of drugs. Negative hercept statusneoplasms will tell that the tumor develops slowly, but there is no adequate medical treatment for it yet.
Immunohistochemistry - what is it?
One of the most common cancers among women is breast cancer. An IHC study helps to determine the type of neoplasm and select a treatment in accordance with the situation. Immunohistochemistry is a laboratory study of a biopsy specimen (a biomaterial taken during a biopsy) using a special staining substance. This substance stains HER-2 receptors, and the more receptors that affect the appearance and development of an "abnormal" cell, the brighter the color of the studied biomaterial will be.
How is neoplasm status determined?
Dyed biomaterial during a laboratory study to determine hercept status is subjected to visual examination. for this, a special scale is attached, which has a gradient color from 0 to 3+. This method allows us to distinguish 4 main thresholds, depending on which it is supposed to lead the patient further. It seems - what is easier? Stain the studied tissues with a special substance, place under a microscope, carefully examine, comparing what you see with color control samples, and establish the Hercept status of the tumor. But here the human factor plays a huge role, lighting features and so on.
How is it doneIHC study
When a cancer is suspected, a breast examination is performed. The decoding of the immunohistochemical study contains only four thresholds. But the problem is that the middle two values, which would be 1+ and 2+ on the scale, suggest an unclear result that requires further investigation by another method. That is, the IHC study is the most controversial method for detecting the Hercept status of a neoplasm. In addition, the result of the study is actively influenced, as already mentioned, by the human factor and external circumstances. The only thing that is most accurately determined are two extreme results - negative 0 (the neoplasm has a negative Hercept status) and 3+ (the hormonal status of the tumor is positive).
Female hormones and tumors
As modern medicine says, most tumors of the female genital area are dependent on the hormonal level of the body. Their development is actively influenced by female sex hormones - progesterone and estrogen. Receptors for these hormones determine the formation and development of cancer. The established hormonal dependence makes it possible to clearly define the treatment regimen with subsequent life prognosis. In addition, these receptors play a role not only in oncological diseases of the mammary glands, but also in such serious problems as female infertility, endometriosis and cancers of the genital area - the uterus, ovaries, and cervix. Hercept-status of the tumor, which is established during the IHC studythe endometrium, for example, will allow prescribing treatment with precisely those drugs that will help achieve an adequate result without unnecessary experiments with the selection of drugs in each case.
If infertility
Infertility is a huge problem for many modern families. Studies conducted by scientific medical institutions have shown that in a fairly large number of cases, infertility is due to a lack of hormonal levels of the endometrium - the epithelial layer lining the uterine cavity. It is the Hercept status that makes it possible to identify the IHC study of endometrial receptivity. Female sex hormones are active parts of the process of egg formation, its fertilization, implantation of the embryo into the uterine cavity, as well as subsequent pregnancy and childbirth. ICG study of the endometrium, as we have already said, allows you to identify the Hercept status of endometrial cells to estrogen and progesterone and, in accordance with the results obtained, select the right treatment for a woman.
Diagnosis of lymphoma
Oncological diseases are the misfortune of humanity. Although modern pharmacology and technical developments can cure these diseases. But diagnosis is very important here, especially in the early stages of the disease. Lymph cancer is a fairly common problem. An IHC study for lymphoma is one of the ways to make an accurate diagnosis in order to then prescribe adequate therapy. This studyperformed on a biopsy of lymphatic fluid or tissue of the hematopoietic system. The material taken for research is stained with special substances that help determine tumor markers. Unfortunately, this type of research is imperfect and in most cases is supplemented by other diagnostic methods. In addition, it is often not the lymphatic system itself that causes the problem. This is what makes it possible to reveal the IHC study of the lymph.
IHC analysis - timely knowledge
He alth problems should be detected and identified in time. For this, various methods of examinations and analyzes are needed. IHC study is one of the most common methods for diagnosing neoplasms or other problems with the tissues of various organs. The study of IHC is carried out on the material taken to determine the problem - the so-called biopsy. The material is stained with special substances for each specific purpose, and with the help of a visual comparison conducted by a histologist, tumor markers are established that show a particular problem. The imperfection of the immunohistochemical study is that the material may not be enough, the human factor will play its role, or external causes will not allow an accurate picture of the problem to be established. In any case, for an adequate diagnosis of a disease, especially cancer, it is necessary to conduct a whole range of examinations, where one of the steps will be an IHC study. What is it with cancer of some organ, tissue? The biopsy is examined for tumor markers,to assess their presence in the sample. As an aid in making a diagnosis, the IHC study is indispensable, and it is also actively used in establishing the causes of female infertility.
Medicine, including diagnostic medicine, is constantly evolving. Perhaps in the near future, immunohistochemical research will be brought to perfection and will allow many people to make an adequate diagnosis with the least amount of time and effort.
