Symposium #4

Odontogenic Tumors: Molecular Pathology to Personalized Medicine

(2 credit hours)

Speakers

* All of the speakers involved in this seminar have been verified as having no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Kristiina Heikinheimo, DDS, MS, PhD

“Recently Reported Mutations in Classical Ameloblastoma (AM) and in Unicystic Ameloblastoma (UAM)”

Course Description

The course will cover the recently reported mutations in classical ameloblastoma (AM) and in unicystic ameloblastoma (UAM), which is considered a less aggressive variant of ameloblastoma and amenable to more conservative treatment. Statistical analyses to correlate the mutation findings with the follow-up information are also discussed.

Objectives of course:

  • to cover the oncogenic mutations in AM and UAM
  • to assess whether UAM is a distinct genetic entity or part of the spectrum of AM
  • to assess the significance of the mutation status for prognostification and treatment

At the end of this course the participant

  • Will be familiar with the most common oncogenic mutations in ameloblastoma and their significance in diagnosis, prognostification and treatment.

 

Rob West, MD, PhD

“Molecular Pathology of Odontogenic Tumors: Towards Targeted Therapy”

Course Description:

The course will cover genomic features of odontogenic neoplasia, methods to study these features, and their implications for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Objectives of course:

  1. Discuss genomic differences between odontogenic neoplasia
  2. Understand driver genomic changes in odontogenic neoplasia
  3. Consider targeted therapeutic options
  4. Appreciate various genomic techniques applied to archival tissue.

At the end of this course the participant:

  • Will appreciate genomic features of odontogenic neoplasia and understand their implications for diagnosis and treatment.

 

Mary MacDougall, BA, PhD

“Odontogenetic Tumor Update”

Course Description:

Odontogenetic tumors are a group of heterogeneous lesions with varying clinical profiles and histopathology spanning benign tumor-like nodules to malignancies. These tumors are derived from epithelial, mesenchymal or a mixture of these cells derived from the dental apparatus within the jaw or proximal oral mucosa. Numerous molecular pathways have been implicated in playing critical roles in the pathogenesis of these lesions. There is an emerging inventory of identified gene mutations or single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with many of these tumors determined through next generation genomic sequencing. Furthermore, methodology is emerging to establish specific tumor-type cell populations that can be useful for potential biomarker identification. This presentation will highlight some of the immunohistochemistry, gene expression profiles and genetic alterations identified in several molecular pathways comparing and contrasting selected odontogenetic tumors

Objectives of course:

  1. Understanding of the updated types of odontogenetic tumors
  2. Overview the establishment of tumor cell populations
  3. Understand the molecular pathways identified having a role in the formation of these tumors

At the end of this course the participant

  • will be able to understand and appreciate the updated classification of odontogenetic tumors, strategies to establish cell populations from these tumor types, and the molecular pathways being explored to potentially target odontogenetic tumors to prevent growth and recurrence.

 

Ricardo Gomez, DDS, PhD

“The Molecular Pathology and Treatment of Odontogenic Keratocyst”

Course Description:

Odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is a benign odontogenic cyst that may recur after surgical treatment, causing significant morbidity. The most important molecular alteration described in OKC is the PTCH1 gene mutation, but there is no hotspot mutational signature and not all lesions present this alteration. Furthermore, PTCH gene alterations are also reported in other odontogenic lesions, which challenges the idea that these mutations are signatures of OKC. Despite of its benign nature, the recurrence rate of OKC is approximately 30%.

Course Objectives:

  • To review the molecular based-therapies currently under investigation, together with its limitations in clinical practice.

At the end of this course the participant:

  • will be able to present some perspectives of potential molecular targets for the treatment of OKC.
    • To review the molecular based-therapies currently under investigation, together with its limitations in clinical practice.

    At the end of this course the participant:

    • will be able to present some perspectives of potential molecular targets for the treatment of OKC.