DF/HCC Program Affiliation

Gastrointestinal Malignancies

Research Abstract

1) Barrett's Esophagus
I initially described Barrett's esophagus' topographical appearance using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy comparisons. I and my team identified a distinctive cell using scanning electron microscopy that expresses ultrastructural characteristics of both columnar and squamous mucosa. By light microscopy we also described a multilayered epithelium that by cytokeratin immunocytochemistry has both columnar and squamous-type cytokeratins. This hybrid type of epithelium may be of great importance to our understanding the cell of origin of Barrett?s esophagus. Currently I am collaborating on a series of projects designed to elucidate the role of multilayered epithelium in the development and progression of Barrett's epithelium as a precancerous entity.

2) Colon Cancer Screening
I have recently completed a study of the factors that influence doctors in their decision-making process when presented with a positive stool for occult blood in a middle-aged or elderly person. The patient's family history, the patient's anxiety over the possibility of having colon cancer, number of positive Hemoccult windows, and male gender were all important factors contributing to significantly more evaluation tests being done.

Publications

• Boch JA, Shields HM, Antonioli DA, Zwas F, Sawhney RA, Trier JS.Distribution of cytokeratin markers in Barrett's specialized columnar epithelium.Gastroenterology 1997 Mar;112(3):760-5.
  9041237
• Sawhney RA, Shields HM, Allan CH, Boch JA, Trier JS, Antonioli DA.Morphological characterization of the squamocolumnar junction of the esophagus in patients with and without Barrett's epithelium.Dig Dis Sci 1996 Jun;41(6):1088-98.
  8654139
• Shields HM, Zwas F, Antonioli DA, Doos WG, Kim S, Spechler SJ.Detection by scanning electron microscopy of a distinctive esophageal surface cell at the junction of squamous and Barrett's epithelium.Dig Dis Sci 1993 Jan;38(1):97-108.
  8420766