Diagnostic Pathology: Revolutionizing Women’s Cancer Care

Context:

Published on March 26, 2025, this article highlights the transformative advances in diagnostic pathology, particularly for women’s cancers like breast, ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancer. These innovations, driven by molecular testing and AI, are enabling personalized treatment, addressing India’s rising cancer burden, where breast cancer alone affects 1 in 28 women.

Key Information Points:

• Technological Evolution: Diagnostic pathology has shifted from traditional histopathology to advanced molecular testing, liquid biopsies, digital pathology, and AI-driven diagnostics, enhancing precision in cancer care.
• Women’s Cancers Focus: Targets breast (most common), endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancers, which dominate female cancer incidence in India and globally.
• Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Core biopsy with radiologic imaging is standard, but immunohistochemistry (IHC) now identifies estrogen/progesterone receptor status, guiding hormonal therapies like tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors.
• Molecular Classification: Pathological techniques distinguish aggressive from indolent tumors, enabling tailored treatments; e.g., hormone receptor-positive endometrial cancers may use progesterone therapy to avoid surgery.
• Cervical Cancer Screening: HPV DNA testing identifies high-risk types, guiding surveillance or vaccination (e.g., Gardasil), critical as HPV drives most cases.
• Personalized Therapy: Molecular testing, genomics, and immunotherapy-targeted diagnostics customize treatments to individual profiles, improving efficacy and reducing side effects.
• India’s Health Landscape: Rising cancer incidence among women underscores the need for these advances, with late detection a persistent challenge.
• Expert Insight: Dr. Sandhya Sundaram, a leading pathologist from Sri Ramachandra Medical College, emphasizes how these tools refine diagnosis and therapy, aligning with global trends in personalized medicine.
• Public Health Impact: Enhanced diagnostics promise better outcomes by enabling early intervention and reducing reliance on one-size-fits-all approaches.

Key Terms:

• Histopathology: Microscopic examination of tissue for disease diagnosis.
• Molecular Pathology: Study of disease at a molecular level for precise treatment.
• Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Technique detecting proteins in tissue to guide therapy.
• Liquid Biopsy: Non-invasive test analyzing blood for cancer markers.
• Digital Pathology: Use of digital imaging and AI for diagnostic accuracy.
• HPV DNA Testing: Detection of Human Papillomavirus DNA to assess cervical cancer risk.
• Personalised Medicine: Tailoring treatment to an individual’s genetic and molecular profile.

Link To The Original Article – https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/advances-in-diagnostic-pathology-pave-way-for-personalised-cancer-therapy-in-women/article69376230.ece