Meagan Chambers

All Publications

• Research autopsy programmes in oncology: shared experience from 14 centres across the world. The Journal of pathology Geukens, T., Maetens, M., Hooper, J. E., Oesterreich, S., Lee, A. V., Miller, L., Atkinson, J. M., Rosenzweig, M., Puhalla, S., Thorne, H., Devereux, L., Bowtell, D., Loi, S., Bacon, E. R., Ihle, K., Song, M., Rodriguez-Rodriguez, L., Welm, A. L., Gauchay, L., Murali, R., Chanda, P., Karacay, A., Naceur-Lombardelli, C., Bridger, H., Swanton, C., Jamal-Hanjani, M., Kollath, L., True, L., Morrissey, C., Chambers, M., Chinnaiyan, A. M., Wilson, A., Mehra, R., Reichert, Z., Carey, L. A., Perou, C. M., Kelly, E., Maeda, D., Goto, A., Kulka, J., Székely, B., Szasz, A. M., Tőkés, A. M., Van Den Bogaert, W., Floris, G., Desmedt, C. 2024

  Abstract

  While there is a great clinical need to understand the biology of metastatic cancer in order to treat it more effectively, research is hampered by limited sample availability. Research autopsy programmes can crucially advance the field through synchronous, extensive, and high-volume sample collection. However, it remains an underused strategy in translational research. Via an extensive questionnaire, we collected information on the study design, enrolment strategy, study conduct, sample and data management, and challenges and opportunities of research autopsy programmes in oncology worldwide. Fourteen programmes participated in this study. Eight programmes operated 24 h/7 days, resulting in a lower median postmortem interval (time between death and start of the autopsy, 4 h) compared with those operating during working hours (9 h). Most programmes (n = 10) succeeded in collecting all samples within a median of 12 h after death. A large number of tumour sites were sampled during each autopsy (median 15.5 per patient). The median number of samples collected per patient was 58, including different processing methods for tumour samples but also non-tumour tissues and liquid biopsies. Unique biological insights derived from these samples included metastatic progression, treatment resistance, disease heterogeneity, tumour dormancy, interactions with the tumour micro-environment, and tumour representation in liquid biopsies. Tumour patient-derived xenograft (PDX) or organoid (PDO) models were additionally established, allowing for drug discovery and treatment sensitivity assays. Apart from the opportunities and achievements, we also present the challenges related with postmortem sample collections and strategies to overcome them, based on the shared experience of these 14 programmes. Through this work, we hope to increase the transparency of postmortem tissue donation, to encourage and aid the creation of new programmes, and to foster collaborations on these unique sample collections. © 2024 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/path.6271

  View details for PubMedID 38551513

• The Value and Utility of Postmortem Cultures at the Time of Autopsy Chambers, M., Andre, A., Reilly, E., Hooper, J. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2024: S11-S12

  View details for Web of Science ID 001302363400009

• Topical Imiquimod for Lentigo Maligna: Survival Analysis of 103 Cases With 17 Years Follow-up JOURNAL OF DRUGS IN DERMATOLOGY Chambers, M., Swetter, S. M., Baker, C., Saunders, E., Chapman, M. 2021; 20 (3): 346–48

  Abstract

  Topical imiquimod 5% cream has been investigated as off-label primary or adjuvant treatment for melanoma in situ, lentigo maligna type (LM). Herein, we present the largest known case series of lentigo maligna treated with topical imiquimod, with up to 17 years of follow-up, and include a recurrence-free survival analysis. In this case series, 103 lesions were retrospectively evaluated for treatment response and recurrence following a course of topical imiquimod with or without tazarotene gel 0.1% pretreatment between January 1, 2002 and March 31, 2019, and prospectively followed through November 15, 2019. Over median follow-up of 5.1 years (mean = 6.2 years, S = 5.2 years, range, 0.08–17.1 years), including 29.1% LM with >10 years follow-up, we observed a response rate of 97.1% (100/103), with 8 local recurrences (8/100, 8.0%) developing at mean 2.9 years (SD: 2.7 years). Local recurrence was significantly associated with a history of failed excision (P= 0.001), <60 applications of imiquimod (P= 0.04) and partial clinical clearance (P= 0.0003). Recurrence-free survival analysis demonstrated significant risk-stratification for low and high-risk groups (P= 0.0001). Long term risk for recurrence showed significant differences among low- and high-risk cases, with low-risk cases demonstrating favorable long-term outcomes, comparable to conventional and staged surgery. Our observed low recurrence in a large case series with long-term follow-up suggests the efficacy of topical 5% imiquimod for LM and emphasizes the need for randomized control trials comparing imiquimod with, or as an adjunct to, surgical treatment. J Drugs Dermatol. 2021;20(3):346-348. doi:10.36849/JDD.5660.

  View details for DOI 10.36849/JDD.2021.5660

  View details for Web of Science ID 000630435700017

  View details for PubMedID 33683087