Research Abstract

As a member of the BIDMC Cutaneous Oncology Program, Dr. Drews sees patients with non-melanoma skin cancers, including lymphomas and squamous cell, basal cell, and Merkel cell cancers of the skin. He has developed a chief focus in the diagnosis and management of cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders, including conditions such as lymphomatoid papulosis, mycosis fungoides, Sezary syndrome, primary cutaneous CD30-positive large cell lymphomas and B-cell lymphomas. Since cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders often pose particular diagnostic challenges, Dr. Drews works as part of a multidisciplinary team of physicians, including hematopathologists and dermatologists, to interpret pathologic findings on patients' biopsies in relation to patients' clinical symptoms and signs. Such clinicopathologic correlation is often an essential determinant for arriving at correct diagnoses. State of the art techniques are also employed to establish correct diagnoses at the earliest possible time, to prevent disease progression, and to recommend appropriate therapies. Research is also on-going to understand better the biology of this group of disorders and identify improved therapies.