Department of Breast and Molecular Oncology

Dr. Gulisa Turashvili

Education and Experience

• Postdoctoral Fellowship, CIHR Training Program: Clinician-Scientists in Molecular Oncologic Pathology, BC Cancer Agency, Canada, 2009
• PhD, Dept. of Pathology, Palacky University, Czech Republic, 2007
• Research stay, Dept. of Pathology, Institute of Cancer Studies, University of Birmingham, UK, 2006
• ASCO Foundation International Development and Education Award (IDEA), 2005
• Residency in Anatomical Pathology, Tbilisi State Medical University, Georgia, 2004
• European School of Pathology, Institute of Scientific Interchange Foundation, Italy, 2003
• MD, Tbilisi State Medical University, Georgia, 2002

Research interests/projects

• Molecular classification of breast tumours using a combination of copy number analysis, gene expression profiling and tissue microarrays; correlation of the molecular profiles with distinct clinical-pathological phenotypes and clinical outcome to better define different prognosis groups (METABRIC).
• Columnar cell lesions (CCLs) of the breast: genetic alterations, immunohistochemical phenotype, association with mammographic density, and molecular understanding of these common non-cancerous changes.
• Investigation of novel diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers of breast cancer using immunohistochemistry and tissue microarray analysis.

Memberships

• United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP)
• American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
• European Society of Pathology (ESP)
• British Division of International Academy of Pathology (BDIAP)
• European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)

Contact

Office: 1-604-675-8000 x7557
Cell: 1-778-323-0378
Fax: 1-604-675-8218
Email: gturashv [at] bccrc.ca

Selected Publications

1. Shah SP, Morin RD, Khattra J, Prentice L, Pugh T, Burleigh A, Delaney A, Gelmon K, Guliany R, Senz J, Steidl C, Holt RA, Jones S, Sun M, Leung G, Moore R, Severson T, Taylor GA, Teschendorff AE, Tse K, Turashvili G, Varhol R, Warren RL, Watson P, Zhao Y, Caldas C, Huntsman D, Hirst M, Marra MA, Aparicio S. Mutational evolution in a lobular breast tumour profiled at single nucleotide resolution. Nature. 2009 Oct 8;461(7265):809-13.
2. Shah SP, Köbel M, Senz J, Morin RD, Clarke BA, Wiegand KC, Leung G, Zayed A, Mehl E, Kalloger SE, Sun M, Giuliany R, Yorida E, Jones S, Varhol R, Swenerton KD, Miller D, Clement PB, Crane C, Madore J, Provencher D, Leung P, DeFazio A, Khattra J, Turashvili G, Zhao Y, Zeng T, Glover JN, Vanderhyden B, Zhao C, Parkinson CA, Jimenez-Linan M, Bowtell DD, Mes-Masson AM, Brenton JD, Aparicio SA, Boyd N, Hirst M, Gilks CB, Marra M, Huntsman DG. Mutation of FOXL2 in granulosa-cell tumors of the ovary. N Engl J Med. 2009 Jun 25;360(26):2719-29.
3. Turashvili G, Leung S, Turbin D, Montgomery K, Gilks B, West R, Carrier M, Huntsman D, Aparicio S. Inter-observer reproducibility of HER2 immunohistochemical assessment and concordance with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH): pathologist assessment compared to quantitative image analysis. BMC Cancer. 2009 May 29;9:165.
4. Eirew P, Stingl J, Raouf A, Turashvili G, Aparicio S, Emerman JT, Eaves CJ. A method for quantifying normal human mammary epithelial stem cells with in vivo regenerative ability. Nat Med. 2008 Dec;14(12):1384-9.
5. Jensen KC, Schaeffer DF, Cheang M, Montgomery K, West RB, Gilks CB, Ross D, Turashvili G, Schnitt S, van de Rijn M. Characterization of a novel anti-fatty acid synthase (FASN) antiserum in breast tissue. Mod Pathol. 2008 Dec;21(12):1413-20.
6. Turashvili G, McKinney S, Martin L, Gelmon KA, Watson P, Boyd N, Aparicio S. Columnar cell lesions, mammographic density and breast cancer risk. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2009 Jun;115(3):561-71..
7. Burkadze G, Turashvili G. A case of osteoclast-like giant cell tumor of the pancreas associated with borderline mucinous cystic neoplasm. Pathol Oncol Res. 2009 Mar;15(1):129-31.
8. Turashvili G, Hayes M, Gilks B, Watson P, Aparicio S. Are columnar cell lesions the earliest histologically detectable non-obligate precursor of breast cancer? Virchows Arch. 2008 Jun;452(6):589-98.
9. Kolar Z, Ehrmann J Jr, Turashvili G, Bouchal J, Mokry J. A novel myoepithelial/progenitor cell marker in the breast? Virchows Arch. 2007 May;450(5):607-9.
10. Turashvili G, Bouchal J, Baumforth K, Wei W, Dziechciarkova M, Ehrmann J, Klein J, Fridman E, Skarda J, Srovnal J, Hajduch M, Murray P, Kolar Z. Novel markers for differentiation of lobular and ductal invasive breast carcinomas by laser microdissection and microarray analysis. BMC Cancer. 2007 Mar 27;7:55.
11. Turashvili G, Bouchal J, Burkadze G, Kolar Z. Wnt signaling pathway in mammary gland development and carcinogenesis. Pathobiology. 2006;73(5):213-23.