Oncological diseases are the worst thing for the vast majority of people. But in order to identify a serious problem in time and begin to get rid of it effectively, 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 having an oncological orientation, are still unknown to science. But here is how cell growth occurs, has already been studied quite well. Tissue cells have a complex structure. On the surface of the cell there are so-called HE R-2 receptors. They serve as original antennas that listen to the commands of the body. By the way, the abbreviation HE R-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 self-repair.
Active receptor activity and tumor
Unfortunately, the human body does not always work as it should ideally be, without failures and diseases. While science does not know exactly why, but it so happens that the HE R-2 receptors begin to actively receive commands to "divide and multiply." And since these cellular elements are very executive, they cause 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 of modern medicine are determined by the status of the influence of hormonal therapy. This status can be negative (negative) and positive (positive). Specify the nature of the neoplasm helps IHC- study. What does immunohistochemistry show? This study helps to establish the hormonal dependence of the neoplasm - hercept status, and therefore, choose the right treatment method to get an effective result.
Negative and positive
The fact that the hormonal status of the tumor is called “positive” or “negative” will tell a competent doctor a lot. But these definitions themselves do not apply to emotions, as a simple layman who first heard of an IHG study might think. The revealed positive hercept status indicates that this type of cancer has a more aggressive character, it develops faster, spreading through 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. The negative hercept status of the neoplasm will tell you that the tumor develops slowly, but there is no adequate medication for it yet.
Immunohistochemistry - what is it?
One of the most common cancer diseases among women is breast cancer. An IHC study helps to determine the type of neoplasm and select a treatment in accordance with the current situation. Immunohistochemistry is a laboratory study of a biopsy (biomaterial taken during a biopsy) using a special staining substance. This substance stains HE R-2 receptors, and the more receptors that influence the appearance and development of an "abnormal" cell, the brighter the color of the biomaterial under study will be.
How is the status of the neoplasm determined?
The colored biomaterial during a laboratory study to determine hercept status is subjected to visual examination. for this, a special scale is attached, having a gradient color from 0 to 3+. This method allows you to distinguish 4 main thresholds, depending on which it is supposed to lead the patient further. It seems - which is easier? Dye the test tissues with a special substance, place under a microscope, carefully consider, comparing what was seen with the control color samples, and establish the hercept status of the tumor. But here the human factor plays a huge role, especially lighting and so on.
How is the IHC study
If cancer is suspected, a breast test is performed. The interpretation of the immunohistochemical study contains only four thresholds. But the problem is that the average two values, and this will be 1+ and 2+ on a scale, suggest an unclear result that requires additional research by another method. That is, an IHC study is the most controversial method for identifying the hercept status of a neoplasm. In addition, the human factor and external circumstances actively influence the result of the study, as already mentioned. The only thing that the two extreme results are most accurately determined is negative 0 (the neoplasm has a negative hercept status) and 3+ (the hormonal status of the tumor is positive).
Female hormones and tumors
According to modern medicine, 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. Established hormonal dependence allows you to quite clearly determine 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 - uterus, ovaries, cervix. The hercept status of the tumor, which is established during the IHC study of the endometrium, for example, will allow you to prescribe treatment with those drugs that will help to achieve an adequate result without undue experimentation 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 sufficiently large number of cases, infertility is due to a lack of hormonal background of the endometrium - the epithelial layer lining the uterine cavity. It is hercept status that makes it possible to identify an IHC study of endometrial receptivity. Female sex hormones are active sites in the process of egg formation, fertilization, implantation of an embryo in the uterine cavity, and subsequent gestation of pregnancy and childbirth. The IHG study of the endometrium, as we have already said, allows us to identify the hercept status of endometrial cells to estrogen and progesterone and, in accordance with the results obtained, choose the right treatment for the woman.
Diagnosis of lymphoma
Oncological diseases are the misfortune of mankind. Although modern pharmacology and technological developments can cure these diseases. But here diagnosis is very important, especially in the early stages of the disease. Lymph oncology is a fairly common misfortune. An IHC study for lymphoma is one way to make an accurate diagnosis, then to prescribe adequate therapy. This study is conducted on a biopsy of a lymphatic fluid or tissue of the hematopoietic system. The material taken for the study 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 identify the IHC study of lymph.
IHC analysis - timely knowledge
Health problems should be detected and identified on time. For this, all kinds of survey methods and analyzes are needed. IHC research is one of the most common methods for diagnosing neoplasms or other problems with tissues of various organs. The IHC study 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 a role, or external factors will not allow us to establish the exact picture of the problem. In any case, for an adequate diagnosis of the 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 for cancer of some organ, tissue? The biopsy specimen is examined for tumor markers to assess their presence in the sample. As an aid in making a diagnosis, an IHC study is indispensable, and it is also actively used in establishing the causes of female infertility.
Medicine, including diagnostic, is constantly evolving. Perhaps in the near future the immunohistochemical study will be brought to perfection and will allow many people to make an adequate diagnosis with the least expenditure of time and effort.