This special course will provide an in-depth consideration of recent advances in molecular biology and genetics that are enhancing the understanding of the pathogenesis of human cancer and other diseases, and impacting on the practice of diagnostic pathology. Topics will be chosen to highlight specific advances in the field of cancer, with considerations of molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis, the role of basic genetic pathways, the impact of developmental biology, and a variety of methodologic approaches. The program is designed as an update for both practicing pathologists and primary investigators on these specific topics as well as general trends in the field of molecular pathology. In addition to presenting a basic scientific foundation on each topic, each lecture will provide practical information concerning how this information can be applied in diagnostic and therapeutic settings. Therefore, an important overall emphasis of this course will be translational issues that link basic discoveries with the practice of pathology.

Introduction Frederic G. Barr, M.D., Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA

Modern Concepts of the Oncogene Frederic G. Barr, M.D., Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Detection of Lymph Node Metastases Using Quantitative RT-PCR Tony E. Godfrey, Ph.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY

Notch Signaling in Cancer Jon C. Aster, M.D., Ph.D., Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA

Cancer Genetics and Pathology: An Evolving Co-dependency David G. Huntsman, M.D., University of British Columbia, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Recurrent Gene Fusions in Prostate Cancer Arul M. Chinnaiyan, M.D., Ph.D., University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI

Molecular Pathology of Glioblastoma Paul Mischel, M.D., The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA