The central region of Cuba already has its own Immunohistochemistry laboratory at the Arnaldo Milián Castro University Hospital in Villa Clara, and has so far benefited more than 130 patients, who come not only from Villa Clara, but also from the provinces of Cienfuegos, Sancti Spíritus and Ciego de Ávila.
This is the first of its kind outside the capital. “Studies are carried out here to detect oncological diseases, especially breast cancer, lymphomas, lung cancer and others, using automated means of subcellular structures, such as proteins and other complex molecules, which confer identity and individual properties to the various tumors,” explained Dr. Daniel Artiles Martínez, a First Degree Specialist in Pathological Anatomy.
It has the capacity to process samples from between ten and 20 patients in one day, which is sufficient for the expected demand. Doctors, graduates and technicians of the specialty work there, as it is a section of the Department of Pathological Anatomy of the Arnaldo Milián. It was built between the months of May and June, and It has been operational since the beginning of July.
The specialist explained that “the importance of the immunohistochemical method (IHC) lies in the possibility of reaching more accurate diagnoses, which is crucial for adequate treatment. In addition, it allows the detection of the presence of crucial biomolecules in tumors, which intervene in their development and dissemination, for which there are highly effective medications. Hence the importance of searching for them using this technique, thus advancing towards personalized medicine.”
Previously, this type of study was only carried out in Havana, at the Hermanos Ameijeiras Clinical Surgical Hospital, at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, and at other hospitals in the capital.
