Please join us for the inaugural J. Bruce Beckwith Research Award Ceremony on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.  This special event is part of the Pathology Grand Rounds series and will be held in South Campus Center #301 with a reception in South Campus Center #354 (Crow’s Nest) directly following the awards presentation. 

The purpose of the awards is to recognize meritorious Pathology research and development projects carried out by departmental trainees during their training in the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology (DLMP). Each winner receives a monetary award to support their ongoing research, conference travel, or other personal career development. This award is made possible through a generous donation by a previous DLMP trainee (Dr. Richard Mertens, MD, PhD (1979-1983), in honor of Dr. Bruce Beckwith (previous Director of Pathology at Seattle Children’s Hospital, 1964-1985). 

Presentations by award winners: 

Prostate Cancer Volume and Risk of Biochemical Recurrence after Radical Prostatectomy
Meagan Chambers, MD, MS 

Neuropathology Fellow, PGY3

Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology

University of Washington

Objectives: 
1. Discuss the most common variables in current nomograms for biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer after prostatectomy
2. Asses the current literature on tumor volume as a risk factor for biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer after prostatectomy
3. Weigh the current study’s data on tumor volume as a risk factor for biochemical recurrence against the broader clinical significance and implications for pathology workflow

Speaker disclosures: Dr. Meagan Chambers has NOT had any financial relationships with any ineligible entities within the past 24 months.
 

Why Attend? 
There are multiple nomograms for estimating the risk of biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. To date, none utilize quantification of prostate cancer volume among their variables of interest. This may be due to lack of a standardized method for estimation leading to conflicting reports in the literature. This single-institution cohort study consists of 2485 consecutive radical prostatectomies for prostate adenocarcinoma at the University of Washington, all of which utilized a validated, low-resource method for quantifying tumor volume at prostatectomy. At analysis, the risk of BCR after prostatectomy was significantly associated with tumor volume. The implications for oncologists, patients, as well as pathology workflow is discussed.
 

Desmoplakin I/II Immunohistochemical Staining Differentiates Cutaneous Graft Versus Host Disease from the Erythema Multiforme, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Spectrum Disorders

Trent Irwin, MD

Surgical Pathology Fellow, PGY5

Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology

University of Washington
 

Objectives:
1. Discuss the clinicopathologic similarities and clinical importance of distinguishing between cGVHD and erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis spectrum disorders in patients who have had hematopoietic stem cell transplants.
2. Explain the function desmoplakin proteins have in the skin and describe the proposed pathogenic role that anti-desmoplakin antibodies may play in the above disorders.
3. Summarize the research findings in using desmoplakin I/II immunohistochemical stain and determine its usefulness in differentiating the above disorders.

Speaker disclosures: Dr. Trent Irwin has NOT had any financial relationships with any ineligible entities within the past 24 months.

Why Attend? 

Cutaneous graft versus host disease (cGVHD) has substantial clinical and histologic overlap with erythema multiforme (EM), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). This overlap creates challenges in distinguishing between these disorders in patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplants, leading to complex treatment decisions. Failing to provide systemic corticosteroids to patients with cGVHD can increase morbidity and mortality while administering corticosteroids to patients with SJS/TEN is controversial and may lead to complications. It is crucial to differentiate between these disorders, as patients with TEN have better outcomes when receiving wound care available in a specialized burns unit, which may require transfer to another hospital. Previous research indicates that anti-desmoplakin antibodies may play a pathogenic role in altering intracellular desmoplakin (Dp) proteins in patients with EM/SJS/TEN spectrum disorders. In our large cohort study, we used Dp I/II immunohistochemical staining of skin biopsies to differentiate between patients with cGVHD and those with EM/SJS/TEN. Our findings suggest that Dp I/II immunostain may be clinically useful in differentiating EM/SJS/TEN from certain grades of cGVHD.

Meeting ID: 983 8715 9855

Passcode: PATHGR

You must sign-in on the following form to receive CME credit. Sign-in online: https://forms.gle/W2oE8d3MYbnyTDe58
 

Planning Committee Disclosure:

The following members have not had any financial relationships with any ineligible entities in the past 24 months: Drs. Rebecca Alvarez, Eleanor Chen, Austin Green, Jose Mantilla, Isaac Miller, Elizabeth Parker, Maria Tretiakova, and Larry True.

The following members disclose financial relations with ineligible entities within the past 24 months: Dr Shreeram Akilesh GoldfinchBio, Inc. (sponsored research) and NanoString, Inc. (sponsored travel); and Dr. Haodong Xu PathomIQ (consultant).

All relevant financial relationships listed have been mitigated.

Grant Acknowledgment:  None

The University of Washington School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
 

The University of Washington School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 10.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. (Each session is 1.0 credit)