IHC Marker - Brachyury Test
About IHC Marker - Brachyury Test
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Brachyury IHC, Brachyury Immunostain, T-box Transcription Factor T (TBXT) IHC, Notochord Marker |
| Sample Type | Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue block |
| Fasting Required | No |
| Report Time | 3 days |
| Recommended For | Males and females of all ages; most commonly adults in their 5th to 6th decade |
| Price | Starting at ₹1,920 |
What is an IHC Marker - Brachyury Test?
The IHC marker - Brachyury test is a specialised tissue-based test used to detect the presence of brachyury protein in tumour cells. Brachyury is a transcription factor, meaning it is a protein that controls gene activity, and it plays a key role during early development in forming the notochord, the embryonic structure that later becomes the spine.
This test is performed using immunohistochemistry (IHC), a laboratory technique that applies specific antibodies to thin slices of tissue to reveal whether a target protein is present. It is also known as Brachyury IHC or the TBXT immunostain.
What Does an IHC Marker - Brachyury Test Measure?
The test identifies the presence and location of brachyury protein within tumour tissue. The table below summarises what the test looks for and why it matters.
| Component | What it tells us |
|---|---|
| Nuclear brachyury expression | Whether the brachyury protein is present in the nuclei of tumour cells, which strongly supports a diagnosis of chordoma |
| Staining intensity | The proportion of tumour cells that stain positive (0 to 3+ scale), giving pathologists additional diagnostic detail |
| Absence of staining | Helps rule out chordoma and points towards alternative tumour types such as chondrosarcoma or chordoid meningioma |
Why is an IHC Marker - Brachyury Test Done?
This test is ordered when a tumour has already been identified, and a pathologist or oncologist suspects it may be a chordoma, a rare bone tumour arising from remnants of the notochord. The result helps confirm or exclude this diagnosis before treatment decisions are made.
Common Symptoms That May Require This Test
Symptoms vary depending on where the suspected tumour is located. The following are the most common reasons a doctor may order further investigation.
- Back pain that extends into the buttocks or legs
- Neck stiffness or persistent neck pain
- Pain in the pelvis, tailbone, or buttocks that worsens when sitting
- Numbness or weakness in the arms or legs
- Headaches or double vision (when a skull base tumour is suspected)
- Bowel or bladder dysfunction
Conditions This Test Can Help Detect
The IHC marker - Brachyury test result is used to identify or rule out several tumour types. The following conditions are directly relevant to this test.
- Chordoma, a malignant tumour arising from notochordal remnants along the spine and skull base
- Haemangioblastoma, a slow-growing vascular tumour that may involve the central nervous system
- Chondrosarcoma (when a negative result helps exclude chordoma)
- Chordoid meningioma (when a negative result guides the pathologist away from chordoma)
- Metastatic carcinoma from other organs, which is also brachyury-negative
How to Prepare and What to Expect
Because this test is performed on tissue already collected during a biopsy, there is no direct patient preparation for the staining process itself. However, there are important steps to follow before submitting the sample.
Do You Need to Fast?
No fasting is required for the IHC marker - Brachyury test. The test is performed on a tissue sample, not a blood or urine sample, so dietary restrictions do not apply.
Practical Tips Before Your Test
The following steps help ensure the tissue sample is suitable for testing.
- Bring a detailed clinical history, including your symptoms, previous test results, and family history, as this is required for the test
- Ensure the tissue sample is fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin as soon as it is collected
- Carry a valid doctor's prescription when submitting the tissue block or slides
- Inform the pathologist of any prior treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation, as these can affect tissue quality
- Confirm with the laboratory that the FFPE block or prepared slides meet submission requirements before dispatch
Step-by-Step Procedure
The following are the steps for an IHC marker - Brachyury test procedure.
- A surgeon or radiologist collects a tissue sample from the suspected tumour site through needle biopsy, incisional biopsy, or surgical removal.
- The tissue is fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin to preserve it, producing what is called an FFPE block. This block is submitted to the laboratory.
- Laboratory technicians cut very thin slices (approximately 4 to 5 microns) from the block and place them on glass slides.
- A heat or enzyme-based process is applied to expose the brachyury protein, which fixation may have partially hidden.
- Specific brachyury antibodies are applied to the tissue slides. A coloured dye then marks the sites where the protein is present.
- A qualified pathologist examines the slides under a microscope and interprets the staining pattern in the context of the provided clinical history.
Factors That Can Affect Accuracy
Several technical and clinical factors can influence the reliability of the result.
- Poor or delayed tissue fixation after biopsy
- Prior chemotherapy or radiation treatment applied to the tumour before biopsy
- Small or fragmented tissue samples that do not provide enough material
- Laboratory factors such as antibody quality and equipment calibration
- Age and degradation of stored tissue blocks
Understanding Your IHC Marker - Brachyury Test Results
Results are reported by the pathologist as positive or negative based on the presence of nuclear staining in tumour cells. The table below explains what each result generally indicates.
| Result | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Positive (nuclear staining present) | Brachyury protein is detected in tumour cell nuclei; strongly supports a diagnosis of chordoma or, less commonly, haemangioblastoma |
| Negative (no nuclear staining) | Brachyury protein is absent; suggests the tumour is not a chordoma; alternative diagnoses such as chondrosarcoma, chordoid meningioma, or metastatic carcinoma should be considered |
These ranges are general guidelines. Your doctor will interpret your results based on your age, health history, and other factors. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised medical advice.
How to Maintain Healthy Levels
This is a diagnostic test, not a wellness or screening test, so there are no lifestyle targets to maintain. The following general points are relevant after receiving the results.
- Share your results with your treating oncologist or surgeon for appropriate next steps.
- If you are undergoing treatment for a confirmed diagnosis, attend all scheduled follow-up appointments and imaging reviews as advised by your doctor.
- Seek care from a centre with experience in rare bone tumours for specialist guidance.
Lupin Diagnostics IHC Marker - Brachyury Test Price
The IHC marker - Brachyury test cost at Lupin Diagnostics starts at ₹1,920. This test requires a visit to a Lupin Diagnostics centre; home collection is not available as the test is performed on a tissue block obtained through a clinical biopsy procedure.
| City | Approximate Price (₹) |
|---|---|
| BHOPAL | 1920 |
| CHENNAI | 1920 |
| HYDERABAD | 1920 |
| KOLKATA | 1920 |
| NAVI MUMBAI | 1920 |
| PUNE | 1920 |
Disclaimer: Prices are indicative and may vary by location. Please confirm the current price at the time of booking.
How to Book
The following steps explain how to arrange your IHC marker - Brachyury test online booking with Lupin Diagnostics.
- Select the test on the Lupin Diagnostics website.
- Choose your city and preferred centre location.
- Visit the centre at your scheduled time to submit the FFPE tissue block or prepared slides.
- Receive your report via email or WhatsApp within the stipulated turnaround time.
Frequently Asked Questions
The IHC marker - Brachyury test is used to identify whether the brachyury protein is present in tumour tissue. Brachyury is uniquely expressed in chordomas, making this test a key tool for confirming or ruling out this rare bone tumour when imaging and clinical findings raise suspicion.
The sample is obtained through a biopsy procedure, which may be a needle biopsy or surgical removal, performed by a surgeon or radiologist. The tissue is then preserved in formalin, embedded in paraffin, and sent to the laboratory as an FFPE block for IHC staining.
Yes. Chondrosarcoma, which is the main tumour type that can look similar to chordoma under a microscope, does not express brachyury. A positive brachyury result supports chordoma, while a negative result points towards chondrosarcoma or another tumour type. Your pathologist will consider other markers alongside this result.
Lupin Diagnostics delivers the report within 3 days. The total time may vary slightly depending on sample quality and whether additional IHC markers are requested alongside this test.
No. The IHC marker - Brachyury test home collection option is not available because the test requires a tissue biopsy performed in a clinical setting. Once the tissue block is ready, it must be submitted directly to a Lupin Diagnostics centre for processing.
A negative result means that brachyury protein was not detected in the tumour cells. This makes chordoma unlikely and helps the pathologist consider other diagnoses such as chondrosarcoma, chordoid meningioma, or metastatic cancer. Your pathologist and treating doctor will review the full picture, including imaging and other test results, before concluding.
No. The Brachyury IHC test is not a cancer screening test. It is a specialised diagnostic test ordered only after a tumour has already been identified and chordoma is suspected based on imaging and clinical evaluation. It is not intended for routine health check-ups.
IHC Marker - Brachyury Test: Booking, Price, and Results
