Advances in Molecular Diagnostics, Genetic Testing, and Personalized Medicine to Be Focus at CAP '12 -- THE Pathologists' Meeting (TM)

Annual Scientific Meeting of the College of American PathologistsGives Special Attention to Lung Cancer

Newswise — NORTHFIELD, ILL.— New science in molecular diagnostics, personalized medicine, and genetic testing for cancer will be featured topics when more than 1,000 pathology leaders gather at the Manchester Grand Hyatt on September 9-12, 2012, for the annual scientific meeting of the College of American Pathologists (CAP). CAP ’12—THE Pathologists’ Meeting™ will highlight advances in anatomic and clinical pathology related to laboratory medicine with a special focus on pulmonary pathology, the diagnosis of lung disease.

“Revolutions in the molecular understanding of cancer have changed the way pathologists diagnose this disease and guide treatment,” said CAP President Stanley J. Robboy, MD, FCAP. “Today, the most effective treatment options are based on appropriate testing, accurate diagnosis, and a team approach to patient care – one that includes the pathologist. We’ve created a curriculum at our annual meeting for pathologists to keep current on the new diagnostic procedures that can enhance patient care.”

At CAP ’12, expert pathologists from around the globe will lead educational seminars that provide practical tools, which pathologists can immediately incorporate into their practices. Hot topics include breakthroughs in the molecular testing of lung cancer, a disease that strikes more than 230,000 Americans each year. This special scientific session will offer perspectives from one of the nation’s leading pathology experts in the study of lung cancer, Marc Ladanyi, MD, FCAP, an attending pathologist on the Molecular Diagnostics Service in the Department of Pathology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York, and Kim Norris, a UCLA Lung SPORE patient advocate and president of the Lung Cancer Foundation of American. Additional hot topics include: o Next-Generation Sequencing for Inherited Disorderso Companion Diagnostics for Targeted Therapy Cancero Treatment Implication of ER-Positive and HER2-Positive Breast Cancer—The Critical Role of Pathologistso Molecular Classification of Multiple Myeloma Using Genomic Profiling

Abstract Program Showcases Junior CAP Members’ Original ResearchAs part of the CAP ’12 Abstract Program, five CAP physician residents will receive special recognition for outstanding original research. Editors from the Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine evaluated the submissions. This year’s winning abstracts cover a range of topics, including major discrepancies between clinical and postmortem pediatric diagnoses, and a large multi-institutional study that sought to determine whether the 2-tier ovarian serous carcinoma grading system was useful in stratifying these carcinomas.

CAP Will Honor San Diego High School Students for Excellence in ScienceAdditionally, the CAP is honoring six of the best and brightest high school science students in San Diego through its “Path to the Future in Medicine” program. As part of this program, the students are invited to display their winning projects at CAP ’12. In addition, they will have the opportunity to tour the CAP ’12 meeting and discuss possible careers in medicine and science, as well as general science issues, with leaders in pathology.

The students, who competed at the 2012 Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair in March were judged for excellence in five areas: creativity, scientific thought, attention to detail, skill, and clarity.

The College of American Pathologists (CAP), celebrating 50 years as the gold standard in laboratory accreditation, is a medical society serving more than 18,000 physician members and the global laboratory community. It is the world’s largest association composed exclusively of board-certified pathologists and is the worldwide leader in laboratory quality assurance. The College advocates accountable, high-quality, and cost-effective patient care.

###Editor’s note: Please call Julie Monzo at 847-832-7538, or e-mail [email protected], for free media registration. Or visit our Web site at: www.cap.org/CAP12.