Bio

Dr. Cansu Karakas is an Assistant Professor, with subspecialty expertise in Breast Pathology. Her academic career spans notable institutions such as MD Anderson Cancer Center and (2010–2017) and NYU (2017-2018). She is passionate about research with a focus on HER2-driven breast cancers, artificial intelligence (AI) applications in breast cancer and identifying resistance mechanisms to guide novel, personalized therapeutic strategies in breast cancer.

Clinical Focus

  • Anatomic Pathology
  • Breast Pathology

Academic Appointments

  • Assistant Professor - University Medical Line, Pathology

Professional Education

  • Fellowship: Brigham and Women's Hospital (2024) MA
  • Board Certification: American Board of Pathology, Anatomic Pathology (2023)
  • Residency: University of Rochester Medical Center (2023) NY
  • Residency: Saint Barnabas Medical Center NJ
  • Medical Education: Ege Universitesi (2001) Turkey

Contact

  • Academic
    ckarakas@stanford.edu
    University - Faculty Department: Pathology Clinical Position: Asst Prof-Univ Med Line
  • Clinical (Primary)  Department of Pathology 300 Pasteur Dr Rm L235 MC 5324 Stanford, CA 94305 (650) 723-7409 (fax)

Additional Clinical Info

Additional Info

All Publications

  • A Validation Study of an Expanded Description of Glandular (Acinar)/Tubule Formation for the Use of Nottingham Grading System for Invasive Breast Carcinomas Demonstrates Improvement in Concordance for Breast Pathologists and Trainees in Pathology. Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine Karakas, C., Aldrees, R. A., Mohamed, A., Ellis, I. O., Fineberg, S. A., Ngo, M. H., Schnitt, S. J., Lester, S. C. 2025

    Abstract

    The Nottingham grading system, developed by Elston and Ellis, is the recommended method for grading invasive breast carcinoma. A previous study demonstrated the mean concordance for 35 breast pathologists in classifying 58 images as glandular (acinar)/tubule formation (G/TF) based on the World Health Organization definition was only 64%.To determine if an expanded description of G/TF according to the original definition and current use of the Nottingham grading system would improve recognition of G/TF among breast pathologists and pathologists in training.Fifty-eight images with one structure circled were classified as G/TF or non-G/TF by Dr Ian Ellis. Images were sent as a PowerPoint (Microsoft) file to the breast pathologists who participated in the original study and to 21 trainees. Participants were asked to classify the structures based on the expanded description and were also provided with the 58 images from the first study with annotation.Among the participating 28 of the original 35 breast pathologists, the mean concordance increased from 64% (range, 40%-97%) to 94% (range, 86%-100%). Trainees had a mean concordance of 90% (range, 52%-100%).The expanded description assisted in the recognition of G/TF for both breast pathologists and trainees. The most important impact on grading will likely be for carcinomas with complex cribriform patterns or micropapillary patterns with "inverted tubules." Participants endorsed that the expanded description of G/TF and the annotated images would be helpful reference material for pathologists.

    View details for DOI 10.5858/arpa.2025-0280-OA

    View details for PubMedID 41187113

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0357-5224