SPECIAL COURSE Monday, March 19, 2012   —  8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Convention Centre 220-222 INTRODUCTION TO MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY FOR THE PRACTICING PATHOLOGIST: TECHNOLOGY, ASSAY INTERPRETATION, AND PITFALLS Click the button above to add this event to your Itinerary Planner... COURSE DIRECTORS: Jennifer L. Hunt, M.D., M.Ed. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock, AR Course Description: It is becoming more and more important to go beyond morphology in the pathologic assessment of tumors, with incorporation of molecular testing into our diagnostic algorithms. While much of this testing may be performed in molecular pathology laboratories, surgical pathologists need to be comfortable with their understanding of the technology associated with these tests in order to select adjunctive tests, incorporate molecular results into their interpretive reports, and to lead clinicopathologic correlation. Molecular pathology is a rapidly evolving specialty, with novel technologies and new complex testing being introduced all the time. However, basic technologies, including polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization, sequencing, and others, underpin most molecular anatomic pathology tests today. This course will provide an overview to these fundamental molecular technologies at an introductory level. The faculty will use both didactic lectures and case presentations to illustrate the techniques, discuss the interpretation of the results, and highlight some of the pitfalls of the molecular testing. A selection of standard technology, specialized techniques, and emerging assays will be introduced. The course is designed specifically for the practicing pathologist or trainee who wants to gain comfort with currently available molecular anatomic pathology techniques and result interpretation. AGENDA 8:00 AM Introduction to Basic Molecular Pathology Techniques: Fixation, Microdissection, and Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Assays Jennifer L. Hunt, MD, MEd, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR Recognize the effects of fixation on nucleic acids and will be able to select assays that are appropriate to the tissue material available. Describe the phases of a standard polymerase chain reaction. 9:15 AM Loss of Heterozygosity and Microsatellite Instability in Tumors: Mechanisms, Testing, and Clinical Implications Wade S. Samowitz, MD, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT Define and explain the biologic mechanism behind loss of heterozygosity and microsatellite instability. Describe the clinical utility and methods of testing for these molecular alterations. 10:00 AM Break: Poster Viewing 10:45 AM Applications of Tissue Genotyping in the Routine Practice of Surgical Pathology Pei Hui, MD, PhD, Yale University School of Medicine, Shelton, CT Comprehend the basic technical aspects of short tandem repeat (STR) genotyping analysis using conventional tissue specimens. Describe clinical diagnostic applications of STR genotyping for in surgical pathology. 11:30 AM Question and Answer 11:45 AM Lunch 12:45 PM Copy Number Detection by Chromosomal Microarray Analysis Long Phi Le, MD, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA Describe the role of copy number variation in genetics and disease. Characterize the methodology, utility and limitation of chromosomal microarray analysis. 1:30 PM Introduction to In Situ Hybridization Technology, Interpretation, and Pitfalls Long Phi Le, MD, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA Select the appropriate approach for translocation testing in clinical testing. Describe the pitfalls in interpretation and scoring of FISH based testing. 2:00 PM HPV Detection: Testing Methodologies and Their Clinical Utility Jennifer Laudadio, MD, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC Explain the role of Human Papillomavirus in oncogenesis. Describe the clinical indications, appropriate sample types and available methods for HPV detection. 2:30 PM Principles and Applications of Real-Time Quantitative PCR Janina A. Longtine, MD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA Explain the basic chemistry of real-time quantitative PCR and distinguish it from end-point PCR. Illustrate a clinical application of real-time quantitative PCR. 3:00 PM Break 3:30 PM Sequencing To Detect Oncogene Mutations in Clinical Anatomic Pathology Applications Jennifer L. Hunt, MD, MEd, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR Identify the best approach for detecting oncogene mutations in tumor samples. Recognize the pitfalls in common approaches for oncogene detection technology. 4:00 PM Review and Summary 4:15 PM Question and Answer Session