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Hematopathology Subdivision Report
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By Timothy C. Greiner, MD
Chair, Hematopathology Subdivision
e-mail:
tgreiner@unmc.edu |
Greetings
from the Hematopathology Subdivision! I thank Kojo
Elenitoba-Johnson for his leadership in arranging the
presentations for the 2009 AMP Annual Meeting.
During
the 2009 AMP Meeting Bryan L. Betz did a practical
review of the detection of mutations with prognostic
implications in AML, including FLT3, NPM1,
CEBPα and Ckit. In the Hematopathology Plenary Session,
Laura Pasqualucci and Vu Ngo discussed the new
mutations, in genes such as CARD11 and A20, that were
identified via pathway analysis of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
It is interesting that both diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
and marginal zone lymphoma contained mutations in genes in
the NFkB pathway. These discoveries may become of prognostic
or targeted therapeutic importance in the future in
lymphoma. In the Hematopathology Workshop Josef T. Prchal
presented the molecular background and Rebecca F.
McClure discussed the practical aspects of JAK2
and MPL mutation testing in chronic
myeloproliferative disorders.
I thought that one of the most exciting events at the AMP
Meeting was the Roche 454 Division announcement of the new
GS Junior System, a smaller platform for next-generation
sequencing. It will be interesting to see if the instrument
will be more cost effective for exploration of the utility
of next-generation sequencing in the clinical laboratory. At
the Hematopathology Business Luncheon members indicated they
were interested in a sample exchange project for JAK2
and MPL testing. Stay tuned for further information
on this project that was suggested for consideration by
Dan Sabath.
Planning is underway for the Plenary Session at the 2010 AMP
Annual Meeting. There are new advances in the acute
leukemias, with mutation analyses of neoplastic pathways and
new findings from whole genome sequencing of the cancer
genome. We hope to have two speakers involved in whole
genome analysis provide an update in this area.
Besides myself, the officers and representatives for
2009-2010 are as follows:
Charles E. Hill, Chair-Elect
Joseph F. Pulliam (Clinical Practice Committee
Representative)
Jane S. Gibson (Clinical Practice Committee
Representative)
John W. Longshore (Nominating Committee
Representative)
Domnita Crisan (Nominating Committee Representative)
Megan S. Lim (Training and Education Committee
Representative)
Y. Lynn Wang (Training and Education Committee
Representative) |