Karen L. Kaul , MD, PhD

Molecular biology in clinical medicine.

Our laboratory is involved in translational research using basic molecular techniques to diagnose and monitor human disease. We have developed a number of in-house assays for the detection of various malignancies and infectious agents, validated these for clinical use, and utilized them to improve patient care and achieve a better understanding of the disease.

Our research focus has been the study of the mechanisms and consequences of metastasis for breast and prostate cancer. We have developed sensitive and specific RT-PCR assays for the detection of breast and prostate epithelial cells, and used these methods to search for occult tumor cells outside the organ of origin in cancer patients, such as blood, lymph nodes, and bone marrow. We have demonstrated, for example, that tumor cells are present in the bloodstream of a subset of patients with prostate cancer, and that tumor cells can be showered into the circulation during surgery. We are currently monitoring these patients and developing animal models in which to study the clinical relevance of these cells, as well as mechanisms to inactivate them.

Additionally, we are utilizing genetic methods to identify new markers for tumor cells. We are particularly interested in those that correlate with a more aggressive phenotype and thus the ability of tumor cells to result in a metastatic lesion.