Scientist profiles G-L

Administrative Assistant: Karen Laws
Phone: 416-480-4012
Email: karen.laws@sunnybrook.ca

Education:

• M.B.B.Ch., 1968, Alexandria University, Egypt

Appointments and Affiliations:

• Affiliate scientist, Biological Sciences, Odette Cancer Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Professor, department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology, University of Toronto

Research Foci:

• Breast cancer
• Angiogenesis
• Immunohistochemistry
• Light microscopy
• Molecular biology

Research Summary:

Breast cancer has been the focus of Dr. Hanna's research for the last 25 years. Specifically, she has concentrated on the investigation of biological markers as prognostic and predictive factors for response to therapy. The technology she used was predominantly immunohistochemistry and light microscopy. However, in certain areas, in particular, molecular biology, she used polymerase chain reaction. The biological markers included hormone receptors, the HER2/neu oncogene and many molecular markers that are involved in angiogenesis and may play a role in invasiveness. The subset of cohorts used was part of the Henrietta Banting Breast Centre database, the compiling of which involved collection of blocks and slides from 2,000 patients, and statistical compilation of demographics, treatment modalities and clinical outcomes for these patients. Many of the findings from the research were applied to this cohort and tumour bank.

The major focus of Dr. Hanna's research now is on ductal carcinoma in-situ, in particular on markers that are predictive for recurrence, especially invasive recurrence.

Dr. Hanna is also involved in the standardization of testing for molecular markers for breast cancer. She has been involved in setting guidelines locally, nationally and internationally, specifically for hormone receptors and Her2/neu testing.

Selected Publications:

See current publications list at PubMed.

1. Rakovitch E, Nofech-Mozes S, Hanna W et al. Omitting radiation therapy after lumpectomy for pure DCIS does not reduce the risk of salvage mastectomy. Breast. 2017 Aug 3. Epub ahead of print.
2. Hanna WM, Slodkowska E, Lu FI, Nafisi H, Nofech-Mozes S. Comparative analysis of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 testing in breast cancer according to 2007 and 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists guideline recommendations. J Clin Oncol. 2017 Apr 26. Epub ahead of print.
3. Felipe Lima J, Sirkin W, Hanna WM. Myoid Hamartoma of the breast with symplastic changes. Breast J. 2016 Sept;22(5):583–4.
4. Klein J, Kong I, Paszat L, Nofech-Mozes S, Hanna W et al. Close or positive resection margins are not associated with an increased risk of chest wall recurrence in women with DCIS treated by mastectomy: a population-based analysis. Springerplus. 2015 Jul 10;4:335.
5. Hanna WM, Barnes PJ, Chang MC et al. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 testing in primary breast cancer in the era of standardized testing: a Canadian prospective study. J Clin Oncol. 2014 Dec 10;32(35):3967–73.

Related News and Stories:

• Aiming for a biological bull's-eye (Sunnybrook Research Institute Research Report, 2002–2004)
• Trial and success (Sunnybrook Research Institute Research Report, 2002–2004)