Lab tour with VSW2 Fellow, Dr. Ana Lohmann

On March 3, the VSW2 group met with VSW2 Fellow, Dr. Ana Lohmann for a special tour of the Marvelle Koffler Breast Centre, Mount Sinai Hospital’s outpatient facility which specializes in all aspects of breast health and care. Dr. Lohmann presented an informative session about the Centre and her research into breast cancer followed by an intimate conversation with Dr. Pamela Goodwin, Dr. Lohmann's supervisor and the Director of the Centre.

The tour of the Centre was followed by a behind-the-scenes opportunity to see Dr. Martin Chang’s lab, using the CellSearch system that was used in Dr. Lohmann’s research. The CellSearch system is the first instrument platform that can determine prognosis for patients with metastatic cancer, based on the number of tumour cells detected in the blood. Dr. Chang explains that the research looks at what other measurable factors within a patient (body weight, blood sugar, inflammatory factors) are linked to tumour-cell spread. This work forms a stepping-stone to the development of a true “liquid biopsy”—the discovery of blood factors that can help make earlier diagnoses and to determine treatment.

Here are some of the key findings about breast cancer:

• In Ontario, an estimated 9,500 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014.
• Breast cancer occurs when abnormal cells divide and grow out of control. These abnormal cells can lump together to form a mass of tissue called a tumour.
• If the breast is the original (primary) location of a cancer growth or tumour, the condition is called breast cancer.
• Breast cancer can also spread beyond the breast area if cells break off from the growth or tumour and travel through the blood stream or lymphatic. This condition is called metastases, which is the focus of Dr. Lohmann’s research.
• Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) are breast cancer cells that have spread beyond the breast area and travel through the blood stream.
• Dr. Lohmann examines if CTCs are associated with other factors that advance the disease, such as obesity and inflammation.
• One hundred breast cancer patients were enrolled in the study, their blood was tested and the data was analyzed.
• The results showed that CTCs were associated with bone and liver metastases. Future studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

• Events
• Upcoming Events
• Race for Research
• Host an Event
• Corporate Partnerships
• Future Sinai
• Leadership Sinai
• Venture Sinai

Navigate

• Events
• Upcoming Events
• Race for Research
• Host an Event
• Corporate Partnerships
• Future Sinai
• Leadership Sinai
• Venture Sinai