Medical Director: Ediz Cosar, M.D.

About Us



The Laboratory of Diagnostic Molecular Oncology provides a wide range of molecular testing. Our testing involves both the diagnosis and monitoring of hematolymphoid malignancies and solid tumors. This testing is performed on a variety of specimen types including blood, bone marrow, fresh or frozen tissue, paraffin embedded tissue and body fluids.

The Laboratory occupies a unique niche when it comes to the war on cancer. As a clinical laboratory we get feedback from physicians and patients by helping with early cancer diagnosis and by guiding the most effective patient therapy. As a research laboratory we continue to discover  and develop new cancer diagnostics that will support patient care. For example we have developed a novel assay integrating cell morphology with fluorescent in situ hybridization to improve the accuracy of bladder cancer diagnosis.

Du to continuing efforts to integrate these novel assays into routine laboratory testing the number of assays performed in-house continues to expand. In addition, this laboratory also coordinates the send-outs of esoteric molecular oncology testing to reference laboratories.

Solid Tumors



The laboratory of Diagnostic Molecular Oncology performs testing on a variety of solid tumor samples. Testing methods include in situ hybridization (FISH), PCR, Invader and Hybrid capture techniques which employ a combination of traditional bench methods and state of the art robotics. We are able to perform testing on fresh and frozen tissue samples as well as formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue. See the test directory for specific details about specimen requirements.

Testing that is performed includes: 

• FISH: Her2/neu, EGFR, UroVysion
• Mutation analysis: KRAS, BRAF
• Colon Cancer Screening: MSI (microsatellite instability)
• Human Papilloma Virus: high risk and 16/18 genotypes

Hematolymphoid Tumors

• B and T Cell Clonality
• BCL-2 PCR t(14;18)(q32;q21)
• BCR/ABL Quantitative PCR
• PML/RARA PCR
• Acute Leukemia Multiplex PCR Translocaiton Panel
• NPM1 PCR
• EBV RNA ISH (EBER-1)

Research projects include:

1. BARCODE-ALL: accelerated and cost effective genetic risk stratification in acute leukemia using spectrally addressable liquid bead microarrays. Leukemia (2003) 17, 1404-1410.

2. Trisomy 8 in B-cell chronic lymphocytic Leukemia. Cancer Genetics and Cytogenetics 183 (2008) 49-52. (Trisomy 8 restricted to myeloid and not lymophcytic lineage)

3. Contribution of Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Cells to Barretts Adenocarcinoma in Mice and Men. 2009 Annual Meeting, Digestive Disease Week.

Links

BARCODE-ALL
Signature^®LTx Leukemia Translocation Panel v2.0 (RUO)
 

Lab Personnel

Faculty



Dr. Bruce Woda, M.D
Dr Ediz Cosar, M.D.
Dr. Llyod Hutchinson, PhD

Specimen Collection and Handling

Hours of operation are 8:00am - 5:00pm Monday through Friday
 

• All specimens must be accompanied by a Diagnostic Molecular Oncology Requisition that include the patient name, medical record number, source of specimen and the submitting physician's name.
• All samples being submitted to the laboratory must be properly identified by (a.) indicating the patient's full name, (b) patient's unique identification number (Medical Record Number or Date of Birth), (c) date and time collected, and (d) the initials of the person collecting the sample. Complete the requisition and place the specimen and requisition from each patient in individual bio hazard labeled transport bags.
• An adequate clinical history including pertinent lab/path finding is essential. Failure to provide this information may result in a delay in reporting results.
• Verbal Orders: The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1988 (CLIA '88) requires that all verbal requests for laboratory requests MUST BE followed up with written verification of each request. An Add On Test request form can be faxed to you in receipt of any verbal orders.
• All samples (Except fresh skins) are sent to be accessioned at One Biotech. There samples will be registered and received and then triaged to the appropriate departments.
• Fresh skins are to be collected and shipped within 1-2 hours of collection. See Skin Biopsy for Clonality Analysis directions below.

• Place 1/2 fresh skin biopsy on gauze moistened with saline and put in a specimen container labeled with patient name, date of birth or unit number and specimen date. Place other 1/2 of biopsy in formalin for Pathologist to do morphologic diagnosis.
• Place containers in a bio hazard bag provided and seal. Fill out requisitions and place specimens and requisitions in envelope provided.
• Deliver the specimens directly to Three Biotech, Innovation Drive, 2nd floor, Molecular Pathology, Room 276, Attention: Lloyd Hutchinson, Ph.D. DO NOT SEND THE SPECIMEN TO CENTRAL PROCESSING (One Biotech). THIS WILL CAUSE UNNECESSARY DELAY.
• Call the laboratory at 508-793-6240 to let us know the specimen is coming. If you are not able to speak with a technician, page us at 508-899-6500 and enter your call back number after the beep.
• For pick up of the specimen within the Memorial-University-Hahnemann-Biotech 1-Biotech 3 loop, call extension 4-5102 for the Stat courier service.
• For pick up of the specimen outside of the UMass Memorial-University-Hahnemann-Biotech 1-Biotech 3 loop, call customer service at 508-334-2863 and request a stat pick up.
• If the specimen cannot be shipped in time to arrive during operational laboratory hours (8am-5pm Monday - Friday), freeze the fresh skin specimen and ship the formalin-fixed specimen using standard procedures. When normal business hours resume, ship the fresh skin specimen at room-temperature using the STAT courier.