Research at Fox Chase »Postdoctoral Research Program »Fellowships and Openings

Lecture 1: "Screening Trials" by Mary B. Daly, MD, PhD

Topics: Principles, design, target outcomes of effective screening programs. The importance of lead time and length bias in assessing the results of screening will be discussed. Psychosocial determinants of adoption of screening behaviors will be reviewed. Methods of dissemination and public health impact of screening for both common and rare cancers, and the application of screening principles to genetic screening will also be included. Examples of screening trials and changes in standard of care based on screening trials will be given. A review of cancer screening guidelines endorsed by professional groups and societies will be discussed.

Learning objectives: The trainee will be familiar with the principles for mass screening programs, guidelines for assessing the effectiveness of community screening programs, common criteria for screening, stages in assessment and implementation of population screening, and the current professional guidelines for cancer screening. The trainee will develop the necessary skills to interpret screening trial results, and to design and implement new screening trials.

Lecture 2: "Cancer Risk Assessment, Risk Communication, and Decision Marking" by Mary Ropka, PhD, RN

Topics: Methods of quantifying cancer risk, including relative, attributable and absolute risk figures will be presented. Current empiric and mathematical cancer risk models will be reviewed. The meaning of familial and genetic risk and genotype/phenotype correlations will be presented. Use of epidemiologic data in risk assessment will also be presented. Methods of communicating risk estimates will be reviewed. Other topics include factors affecting familial cancer risk communication and the ethical, legal and social issues involved in communicating cancer risk.

Learning Objectives: Trainees will be familiar with methods of quantifying cancer risk, the dynamics of risk communication and the medical and social issues associated with cancer risk information. The trainee will also be knowledgeable about the psychosocial determinants of screening behavior and their assessment.

Lecture 3: "The Application of Genetics to Clinical Trials" by Mary B. Daly, MD, PhD

Topics: The role of genetic information and research in the design and direction of future clinical trials will be presented, as well as the role of gene/gene and gene/environment interactions in developing effective management strategies for affected and unaffected family members. In sporadic cancers, the role of genetic polymorphisms in altering risk profiles, in contributing to the carcinogenic process and in determining response to therapies is beginning to be included in the design of clinical trials. Incorporating genetic methods of staging and determining prognosis into clinical trials will be considered.

Learning Objectives: The trainee will understand the major types of genetic variation which have clinical implications for cancer diagnosis and treatment; be able to describe the use of genetic profiles to determine risk of disease and to predict clinical outcome; define the role of genetic markers to make therapeutic decisions; and appreciate the importance of incorporating genetic analyses into future clinical trials.

Lecture 4: "The Introduction of Cancer Genetics into Primary Care" by Mary B. Daly, MD, PhD

Topics: The rationale for the incorporation of cancer risk counseling into primary care, educational and staffing needs, and cultural and institutional barriers faced by primary care practitioners will be explored. Program goals and marketing concerns are considered in terms of the sociodemographic needs of the community. The constellation of health care services and resources for patients considering genetic testing are reviewed. Finally, the interface of cancer genetics and public health and public policy is presented.

Learning Objectives: At the completion of this module, the trainee will understand the goals of genetic risk assessment in private practice, the educational, skills and staffing needs of practitioners, and the barriers and facilitators faced.