DF/HCC Program Affiliation

Breast Cancer
Cancer Epidemiology
Gynecologic Cancer

Research Abstract

I am the pathologist for the ovarian cancer section of the "Nurses' Health Study," an epidemiology based investigation of risk factors for disease in women sponsored by NIH. In that capacity, I have helped to collect tissue and evaluate the histology of several hundred cases of ovarian cancer. We are studying genetic polymorphisms, patterns of gene promoter methylation, and protein expression to correlate molecular markers in tumors to dietary and environmental cancer risk factors. I have evaluated the relevance of specific morphometric (histologic) criterion for pre-cancerous lesions of the endometrium called "endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia" (EIN). We have correlated our subjective diagnoses with mutations in the PTEN gene and risk of subsequent evolution to invasive cancer.

Publications

• Hecht JL, Kotsopoulos J, Gates MA, Hankinson SE, Tworoger SS.Validation of tissue microarray technology in ovarian cancer: results from the Nurses' Health Study.Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008 Nov;17(11):3043-50.
  18990746
• Danforth KN, Tworoger SS, Hecht JL, Rosner BA, Colditz GA, Hankinson SE.A prospective study of postmenopausal hormone use and ovarian cancer risk.Br J Cancer 2007 Jan 15;96(1):151-6.
  17179984
• Hecht JL, Mutter GL.Molecular and pathologic aspects of endometrial carcinogenesis.J Clin Oncol 2006 Oct 10;24(29):4783-91.
  17028294
• Tworoger SS, Hecht JL, Giovannucci E, Hankinson SE.Intake of folate and related nutrients in relation to risk of epithelial ovarian cancer.Am J Epidemiol 2006 Jun 15;163(12):1101-11.
  16554344
• Hecht JL, Ince TA, Baak JP, Baker HE, Ogden MW, Mutter GL.Prediction of endometrial carcinoma by subjective endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia diagnosis.Mod Pathol 2005 Mar;18(3):324-30.
  15529181
• Drapkin R, Crum CP, Hecht JL.Expression of candidate tumor markers in ovarian carcinoma and benign ovary: evidence for a link between epithelial phenotype and neoplasia.Hum Pathol 2004 Aug;35(8):1014-21.
  15297969