Download Colorectal Cancer IHC Testing

Colorectal Cancer
IHC Testing
After you have a colon or rectal tumor removed, the tumor will be closely studied. If all four proteins are present in your tumor, you have the most common type of The results of the study will be given to colon or rectal cancer. This result occurs your doctor in a pathology report about one about 80% of the time (8 out of every 10 week after your surgery. This report helps tests). It also means that you are at a low the doctor to know:
risk of having Lynch syndrome.

The size of the tumor.

If the tumor was malignant (cancer).
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If the cancer has spread.

How well you might do after surgery.
If one or more of the proteins is absent in your tumor, you have the less common type of colon or rectal cancer. This result occurs about 20% of the time (2 out of every 10 tests).
A tumor is a growth that may or may not be cancer. Your doctor will discuss this report Your chance of having a good outcome is with you in a visit after surgery.
better than someone with all four proteins present, but this result also means that you ICC (immunohistochemistry) is a test that is may have Lynch syndrome. done on colon and rectal cancers. IHC gives your doctor more information about how well you might do and if you may have a hereditary form of cancer known as Lynch syndrome. Hereditary cancers are those that run in families. People who have Lynch syndrome have a higher chance of having more than one cancer in their lifetime. What does IHC test for?
IHC checks for four proteins in the tumor. A protein is something that helps your body work correctly. These proteins may be absent in colon cancer cells. The IHC test will look for the proteins:
Your doctor may refer you to the Mount Carmel Cancer Risk Program. There they will share more about your results with you. They will ask about your family history and may discuss the need for more testing.
If the MLH1 and PMS2 proteins are absent, it usually means that you do not have Lynch syndrome. Most people (4 out of 5) with absent MLH1 and PMS2 proteins do not have Lynch syndrome. Further testing, known as promoter methylation, will be performed on your 
MLH1
tumor. This testing will provide more

PMS2 information about your risk for Lynch 
MSH2
syndrome. 
MSH6
If the protein PMS2 is the only protein present or if the MSH2 or MSH6 protein is absent, you are more likely to have Mount Carmel Cancer Risk Program
Lynch syndrome.
 Call 614-234-6848 if you have questions
People who have Lynch syndrome are at a high risk to develop cancer at a younger age or concerns about your IHC result or to make an appointment.
(under 60). They may also have a family history of colon, rectal, stomach, ovarian, or uterine cancer. These results occur about 5% of the time. It is very important that you be referred to the Cancer Risk Program. Dev. 9/06, Rev. 5/09, 3/12, 1/15
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