Wedad Hanna

Research Synopsis

Breast cancer has been the focus of my research in the last 25 years. Specifically, I have concentrated on the investigation of biological markers as prognostic and predictive factors for response to therapy. The technology I used was predominantly immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. However, in certain areas, molecular biology, particularly PCR was used. The biological markers included hormone receptors, Her2/neu oncogene and many molecular markers that are involved in angiogenesis and may play a possible role in invasiveness.

As part of my research activities in breast is tumour banking and databases. 

I have coordinated with Dr. Steven Narod the Henrietta Banting Breast Cancer database which includes 2,000 patients which are annotated with clinical outcomes. Many of the biological markers that are done are continuously added to the database. This group of patient have also been put into TMAs that are available for continuous testing.

A second tumour bank includes 5,000 frozen breast cancer cases which have basic information attached to it. 

The third database is in collaboration with Dr. Zubovits and Dr. Nofech-Mozes and we have established a database of 10,000 from 2000 to present which includes every patient that was tested for Her2/neu oncoprotein. The database includes basic pathological information as well as estrogen and progesterone receptor status. 

We have created various subsets of TMAs to test new biological markers and currently we are testing p10 and Her3 on these subsets. We are also participating in multiple ring studies for various biological markers.

I have also been involved in the standardization of testing for molecular markers for breast cancer and have been involved in setting guidelines locally as well as nationally and internationally, specifically for hormone receptors and Her2/neu testing.  

I am the lead pathologist on the establishment of the Canadian guidelines for Her2/neu testing (Hanna W, O’Malley F.  Updated recommendations from the Her2/neu consensus meeting – Toronto, Ontario, September, 2001. Current Oncology 2002;9(1):S18-S20).  

I have participated as a founding member to the setting and publication of the ASCO/CAP guidelines (Wolff AC, Hammond ME, Schwartz JN, Hagerty KL, Allred DC, Cote RJ, Dowsett M, Fitzgibbons PL, Hanna WM et al. American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists guideline recommendations for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 testing in breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 2007 Jan 1;25(1):118-45.  Epub 2006 Dec 11.). 

I am the leader of the Ontario Quality Assurance program for Her2/neu testing reporting to Cancer Care Ontario. 

Recent Publications

Nofech-Mozes S, Vella ET, Dhesy-Thind S, Hanna WM. Cancer Care Ontario Guideline Recommendations for Hormone Receptor Testing in Breast Cancer. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 2012 May 17 (Epub ahead of print)

Nofech-Mozes S, Vella ET, Dhesy-Thind S, Hagerty KL, Mangu PB, Temin S, Hanna WM. Systematic review on hormone receptor testing in breast cancer. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2012 May;20(3):214-63.    

Rüschoff J, Hanna W, Bilous M, Hofmann M, Osamura RY, Penault-Llorca F, van de Vijver M, Viale G. HER2 testing in gastric cancer: a practical approach. Mod Path. Jan 6, 2012, Epub.

Han K, Nofech-Mozes S, Narod S, Hanna W, Vesprini D, Saskin R, Taylor C, Kong I, Paszat L, Rakovitch E. Expression of HER2neu in ductal carcinoma in situ is associated with local recurrence. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2011 Sept 29 (Epub ahead of print).

Nofech-Mozes S, Jorden T, Hanna WM, Khalifa MA. Synoptic reporting on breast cancer biomarkers: a novel quality improvement module. Can J Path. 2011; 3(4): 11-15.