Metropolis Healthcare through its interactive medical education initiative, Metrospheres embarked on a unique experience based learning programme in Immunohistochemistry (IHC) which aims at creating industry ready doctors and medical practitioners. Through this, Metropolis is imparting special hands on training to PG students i.e. MD DNB pathology and practicing pathologists with a focus on better patient outcomes and treatment in oncology, through better trained, educated well equipped pathologists in this new era of evidence based medicine.

IHC has far surpassed its initial expectation as an invaluable tool in the correct recognition of tumors. It is now being increasingly sought after for prognosis of tumors and as a justification for initiation of expensive targeted therapy in oncology practice for prediction of response to treatment. The wider application of IHC has increased the demands from a surgical pathologist who no longer restricts to giving a correct label but also actively participates in the subsequent clinical decision making process.

The training program imparts in-depth theory and extensive hands - on experience in IHC techniques. Oncology is a critical practice where wrong diagnosis can lead to severe consequences for the patient. Through the Metrospheres IHC module, Metropolis aims to creating a better understanding of this complex subject and troubleshoot problems in oncosurgical pathology and oncohematology.

The laboratory demonstrations, exercises, discussions, and trouble-shooting sessions focused on orientation, overview, principles and perceptual understating of IHC; clinical and technical parts; ASCO and CAP reporting guidelines for ER, PgR and HER2Neu; role of IHC in hodgkin and non hodgkin lymphomas; carcinomas overview especially CUP that is carcinoma of unknown primary and sarcomas overview.

Speaking about the initiative Dr Kirti Chadha, national coordinator and HOD, surgical pathology said that at Metropolis, they have made it a routine practice to provide an accurate final diagnosis using all available ancillary tests to each one of their patients and with this initiative they have created a platform to bring together practicing and training pathologists to discuss complex IHC markers which have a direct role in targeted therapy and personalised cancer treatment.

She added, “As technology and science meet at Metropolis we feel it is important to familiarise the next generation with the latest  techniques and whole battery of new applications of IHC. We are using molecular morphology of IHC and tissue to set the stage for treatment and further genetic testing for which the patient may be eligible. IHC is far more powerful than it was two or three decades ago, hence, we pathologists need to think about how to incorporate new markers and knowledge into our daily surgical pathology practice. The hands on training will help them to standardise this beautiful test in their own laboratories and hospitals.”