IHC - ANY 5 MARKERS
🔬 Advanced HistopathologyReport: 7th Working Day
Sample Type: Tissue Biopsy / Paraffin Block
Test Code: IHC-5
• This is not a blood test. This test is performed on a tissue sample (biopsy) that has already been collected by your surgeon or doctor.
• Please submit the Paraffin Block or stained/unstained slides to our laboratory along with a copy of the original biopsy (H&E) report.
The IHC - Any 5 Markers panel is a specialized diagnostic test performed on a biopsy (tissue) sample. IHC (Immunohistochemistry) is an advanced laboratory technique that uses antibodies to stain and visualize specific proteins (markers) within cancer cells.
✔ A crucial test for cancer diagnosis and classification.
✔ Helps determine the exact type and origin of a tumor (e.g., Breast, Lung, Lymphoma).
✔ Provides essential information for prognosis and guiding targeted treatment.
✔ This panel allows your oncologist to select the 5 most relevant markers for your case from our extensive diagnostic center menu.
Why is an IHC Panel Necessary?
When a standard biopsy (H&E stain) is performed, a pathologist can see that cells are cancerous, but they may not be able to tell the exact type of cancer. For example, a tumor in the liver might have originated from the liver itself, or it might be a cancer that spread (metastasized) from the colon or lung. IHC acts like a set of molecular fingerprints to solve this puzzle.
By staining for specific proteins, the pathologist can determine:
- Cancer Origin: Where the cancer started (e.g., specific markers for lung cancer vs. breast cancer).
- Cancer Subtype: The exact cell type (e.g., differentiating between B-cell and T-cell lymphoma).
- Prognostic Markers: Such as Ki-67, which measures how fast the cancer cells are growing.
- Predictive Markers: These are the most important. They predict which treatments will work. The classic example is testing a breast cancer biopsy for **ER (Estrogen Receptor), PR (Progesterone Receptor), and HER2. A positive ER/PR result means the patient will benefit from hormone-blocking therapy.
What Does Any 5 Markers Mean?
The Any 5 Markers panel is a flexible option. There are hundreds of different IHC markers available. Your oncologist will choose the 5 specific markers that are most relevant to your case based on the biopsy's appearance and the suspected type of cancer. This custom-panel approach ensures the most clinically relevant information is obtained without the cost of running unnecessary tests.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
IHC is an advanced laboratory technique used on a biopsy sample. It uses antibodies to create a special stain that lights up specific proteins in cancer cells. This helps pathologists identify the exact type, origin, and characteristics of a tumor.
Your doctor has a suspected diagnosis and needs specific information to confirm it and plan your treatment. This panel allows them to select the 5 most important protein markers (e.g., for breast cancer, this might be ER, PR, HER2, Ki-67, and one other) to get a complete profile of your tumor.
A biopsy is the procedure of taking a tissue sample. The IHC test is performed on that sample. A standard biopsy analysis (H&E stain) confirms if cancer is present. The IHC test is the next step to classify that cancer and determine its behavior.
This is not a blood test. You or your hospital must provide the Paraffin-embedded tissue block (FFPE block) or prepared glass slides from your original biopsy or surgery to our diagnostic center.
IHC is a very complex, multi-step, and manual process. It involves carefully slicing the tissue, de-paraffinizing it, applying each of the 5 antibody stains (often one by one), developing the color, and then having a senior pathologist meticulously analyze each slide under a microscope. This process requires significant time and expertise.