Institute for Pathology is ready for BRAF testing

Institute for Pathology of University Hospital of Banja Luka Clinic Centre successfully completed in July the education for analysis of BRAF mutations through RTPCD method, on the device Cobas 4800. This testing is focused on the patients diseased with metastasis of melanoma. Cobas ®4800 BRAF V600 mutation test is real-time PCR analysis, created for detection on presence of V600E mutations. Identification of mutations BRAF V600 is crucial for successful selection of therapy and for positive healthcare treatment in case of metastatic melanoma which is aggressive disease with bad prognosis.

BRAF mutations are identified in case of 40-60 percent of malicious melanomas. The test is intended for precise identification of the patients with metastatic melanoma, who could grant benefits from targeted therapy. By introduction of this procedure, University Hospital of Banja Luka Clinic Centre became the first institution in BiH which has capacities for such way of testing. The testing of BRAF mutations requires close communication and coordination between the other clinics, pathologists and molecular biologists. The education has been led by Mrs. Vida Lonic from “Roche” Company ODG Diagnostics Zagreb, while education was successfully done by B.Sc. in Biological Sciences Gordana Vucic and Laboratory Technician Gordana Katalina from the Institute for Pathology. It is important to underlined that mentioned device has been purchases in 2012 in the Institute for Pathology, when the laboratory for molecular diagnostics started with work. The services of testing EGFR mutations are being done in this laboratory already for two years, in cases of EGFR mutations and non-microcellular carcinomas of lunge. This testing s focused on the patients with NSCLC – adeno carcinoma, since general condition does not allow medical treatment. Through continuous education of medical personnel and with the opportunities offered by COBAS 4800 device, the Institute for Pathology will continue developing the spectrum of its services.