Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust & University College Hospital
Cellular and Molecular Pathology of bone & soft tissue tumours & non-neoplastic musculoskeletal disorders
London, UK & Leiden, The Netherlands
I am the clinical lead for the diagnostic pathology service for the London Sarcoma Service undertaking the NHS service work at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust. My research is based at the Institute of Orthopaedics & Musculoskeletal Science in Stanmore, and in the Paul O'Gorman Cancer Institute, Huntley Street, UCL.
Making a correct diagnosis is pivotal in deciding the best treatment for a patient. Cancer is caused by genetic alterations in cells and we can use these genetic changes to diagnose tumours accurately. Over the last 10 years, my research has focused on improving the way that we provide diagnoses for patients. I have introduced new tests for diagnosing sarcomas and other tumours. These include tests for chordoma, fibromatosis, fibrous dysplasia, nodular fasciitis, chondrosarcoma, and atypical lipomatous tumours, amongst others.
Much of our successful research, which is now used in the clinic, has come from patients consenting to donate tissue which is surplus to making a diagnosis. As a result of the generosity of patients, and parents of children with tumours, who have donated tissue and blood samples to research we have developed one of the largest biobanks of sarcoma in the western world. Many of these tumours will be included in the International Cancer Genome Consortium bone tumour project, funded by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute http://www.icgc.org/icgc/cgp/60/508/70116. This is a comprehensive study to unravel the genetic abnormalities that bring about the development of cancer, and should also provide information about the events involved in disease progression. From this information, we have an opportunity to improve how we treat disease, and predict which patients will benefit from different treatments.
Name: Caroline Scanlon
Tel: 020 8909 5354
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
Tel: Caroline Scanlon / Linda Clark: 0208 909 5354