COMPANION MEETINGS College of American Pathologists   Sunday, March 18, 2012 — 8:30 a.m. — Convention Centre 211-214  Bridging the Divide Between Molecular and Surgical Pathology   Moderators: Terence J. Colgan, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada and Jennifer L. Hunt, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR Click the button above to add this event to your Itinerary Planner... 8:30 Introduction - Terence J. Colgan, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada and Jennifer L. Hunt, University of Arkansas Medical Center, Little Rock, AR 8:40 Pre—analytic Variables in Molecular Testing - Philip A. Branton, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD 9:10 Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Site — Is Gene Expression Profiling the Way to Go - Federico A. Monzon, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 9:40 Choosing the Right Molecular Test — Lessons from Colorectal Carcinoma - Alyssa M. Krasinskas, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 10:10 Break 10:40 Genetic Profiling of Tumors for Systemic Therapy —Standard of Care or Passing Fad - Jorge Reis-Filho, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK 11:10 The Present and Future Avalanche of Molecular Testing— Build it or Buy it? - Jeffrey A. Kant, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 11:40 Final Question and Answer Session The Curriculum Committee of the College of American Pathologists considers the list of past offerings, the current and evolving state of anatomic pathology, needs of the USCAP audience, and expert opinion in selecting the topic for the 2012 CAP Companion Society education program. Genetic and molecular testing is moving out from the research and academic settings into widespread use throughout all communities. Such testing is becoming routine in some of the most common tumor sites and in carcinomas of unknown primary site. This development poses new challenges for the laboratory. The handling of all tissues must ensure that molecular and genetic testing can be performed accurately if needed later. Pathologists need to assess whether there are truly benefits to new proposed testing paradigms. If the test is deemed to be appropriate and worthwhile then the laboratory must decide whether to add the test to its own test menu, or send to a reference laboratory.