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 utilitzed them to improve patient care and achieve a better understanding of the disease.

Our research focus has been 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.

Barrett* JM, Rovedo MA, Tajuddin AM, Jilling T, Macoska JA, MacDonald J, Mangold KA, Kaul KL: Prostate Cancer Cells Regulate Growth and Differentiation of Bone Marrow Endothelial Cells Through TGF-b and its Receptor TGF-b RII.  Prostate 2006; 1:66(6):632-50.

Locker GY, Kaul K, Weinberg DS, Gatalica Z, Gong G, Peterman A, Lynch J, Klatzco L, Olunfunmilayo IO, Bomzer CA, Newlin A, Keenan E, Tajuddin M, Knezetic J, Coronel S, Lynch HT: The I1307K APC polymorphism in Ashkenazi Jews with colorectal cancer: clinical and pathologic features.  Cancer Genetics and Cytogenetics 2006; 169:33-8.

Barrett* JM, Mangold KA, Jilling T, Kaul KL: Bi-directional Interactions of Prostate Cancer Cells and Bone Marrow Endothelial Cells in Three-Dimensional Culture.  Prostate 2005; 64:75-82.

Skow* A, Mangold KA, Tajuddin M, Huntington A, Fritz* B, Thomson Jr RB, Kaul KL: Species Determination Of Staphylococcal Isolates Using Real Time PCR And Melt Curve Analysis.  J Clin Microbiol 2005; 43(6):2876-80.

Mangold KA, Manson* RU, Koay ESC, Stephens L, Regner MA, Thomson RB Jr, Peterson LR, Kaul KL: Real-Time PCR for the Detection and Identification of Plasmodium spp.  J Clin Microbiol 2005; 43(5):2435-40.

Paule SM*, Pasquariello AC, Thomson RB Jr, Kaul KL, Peterson LR: Real-time PCR Can Rapidly Detect Methicillin-Susceptible and Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Directly from Positive Blood Culture Bottles.  Am J Clin Pathol 2005; 124(3):404-7.

Paule SM*, Pasquariello AC, Hacek DM, Fisher AG, Thomson RB Jr, Kaul KL, Peterson LR: Direct detection of Staphylococcus aureus from adult and neonate nasal swab specimens using real-time polymerase chain reaction.  J Molec Diagn 2004; 6(3):191-6.

J. M. Ignatoff, K. L. Kaul, M. G. Oefelein, and W. Watkin (1999). "Longitudinal assessment of prostate specific antigen (PSA) reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT­PCR) of circulating prostate epithelial cells following radical retropubic prostatectomy." J. Urology 162: 307-311.

J. Guitarr and K. L. Kaul (1999). "A new polymerase chain reaction-based method for the detection of T-cell clonality in patients with possible cutaneous T-cell lymphoma." Archives of Dermatology 135: 158-162.

K.L. Kaul and S. Luke (1998). "Detection of breast cancer cells in blood utilizing immunomagnetic bead selection and RT-PCR." Molecular Diagnostics 3: 149-156.

J.M. Ignatoff, M.G. Oefelein, W. G. Watkin, and K.L. Kaul (1997). "Prostate specific antigen reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay in preoperative staging of prostate cancer." J. Urology 158: 1870-1875.

M. Oefelein, K.L. Kaul, B. Herz, and J. Ignatoff (1996). "Molecular detection of prostate epithelial cells from the surgical field and peripheral circulation during radical prostatectomy." J. Urology 155: 238-242.

K.L. Kaul, M. Petrick, B. Herz, and T.C. Cheng (1996). "Detection of clonal rearrangement of the T cell receptor gamma gene by polymerase chain reaction and single strand conformation polymorphisms (PCR-SSCP)." Molecular Diagnosis 1: 131-137.

View all publications by publications by Karen L. Kaul listed in the National Library of Medicine (PubMed).