Staff Biography: Mary Lowery-Nordberg, PhD

Associate Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics
Feist-Weiller Cancer Center

Director of Molecular Pathology and
Cancer Cytogenetics, LSUHSC

Contact

Phone: (318) 675-5871
Clinic Phone: (318) 675-8545
Fax: (318) 675-8395
MLower@lsuhsc.edu

Pathology Diagnostics Team
Head & Neck Team
GI Team
Breast Team
Hematology Team
Blood and Marrow Transplant

Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment Program

Advanced Science:
Breast Cancer Focus Group

Clinical Services / Education / Honors / Board Certifications / Professional Associations / Research / Publications

Clinical Services

Dr. Nordberg is the Director of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Cytogenetics, a multidisciplinary clinical testing and research facility that offers state-of-the-art molecular genetic approaches in the diagnosis and prognosis of malignancies and hereditary conditions. In conjunction with flow cytometric analyses and conventional cytogenetic studies, Dr. Nordberg uses molecular genetic and molecular cytogenetic testing to provide comprehensive and thorough patient evaluations and therapeutic monitoring. Dr. Nordberg is also a team member of the FWCC Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment Program. Prior to arriving at LSUHSC, Dr. Nordberg was Chief of Cytogenetics and Immunopathology for ten years at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs

Education / Professional Experience

Associate Professor of Pathology/Director of Molecular Pathology at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center since 2004.
Associate Professor of Pathology/Director of Molecular Pathology at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center since 1999.
Chief, Cytogenetics/Immunopathology, Penrose-St. Francis Healthcare System, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 1989-1998
Instructor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport, LA, 1987-1989

Texas A&M University (1980); University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX (1987) Post-Graduate: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, LSUHSC (1987-1989)

Degree: Ph.D. University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX (1987)

Other experience and Professional Memberships:

2008 Chair, Genetics Subdivision, Association for Molecular Pathology

Program Committee Member, 2008 Annual Meeting, Association for Molecular Pathology

2006 Chair-Elect, Genetics Subcommittee, Association for Molecular Pathology
Program Committee Member , 2007 Annual Meeting, Association for Molecular Pathology
1981- present Member, International Society of Analytical Cytology
1994-present Clinical Cytometry Society
1989-present American Society of Human Genetics
1989-present Association of Genetic Technologists
1993-present Association for Molecular Pathology

Honors and Awards

2007 Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Shreveport/Bossier City Race for the Cure for Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment Program ~ Patient Education Materials

2004 Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Shreveport/Bossier City Race for the Cure for Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment Program ~ Patient Education Materials.

2000 Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Shreveport/Bossier City Race for the Cure for BRCA1/2 Mutations in Hereditary Breast Cancer.

Fellowship:

Department of Medical Genetics, University of Utah Medical School, Salt Lake City, UT (1993-1995)

Board Certifications:

Cytogenetic and Molecular Genetic Specialist (NCA CLSp(CG), CLSp(MB)), High Complexity Laboratory Director

AMP Involvement:

AMP Member since: 1996. Offices & Committees: Training and Education Committee, Genetics Subdivision Representative (2004-2005), Program Committee, Genetics Chair-Elect (2006-2007), Genetics Chair (2008); Contributor, CME questions in JMD.

Membership & Activities in Other Professional Associations:

Clinical Cytometry Society; American Society of Human Genetics; Association for Genetic Technologists; International Society for Analytical Cytometry

Research Interest

My primary interests are in clinical cytogenetics (particularly cancer cytogenetics), hematopathology, flow cytometry, and molecular genetics/molecular pathology. I am also active in molecular genetics of solid tumors (breast, lung, colon, head and neck), development of markers relevant to predictions of clinical behavior, and teaching (medical students, residents, fellows, Allied Health Sciences). My research interests include clinical applications of advanced technologies, including immunohistochemistry for the assessment of aberrant protein expression in solid tumors and hematopoietic disease, multiparametric flow cytometric immunophenotyping in leukemias and lymphomas, identification of chromosomal abnormalities in human disease using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and multicolor FISH (M-FISH), molecular genetic techniques in the diagnosis of hematologic hereditary genetics disorders, and pharmacogenomics. Research is a primary mission of the laboratory involving collaborative projects with many other faculty and departments/institutions. Dr. Nordberg is also a team leader in the Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment Program at Feist-Weiller Cancer Center.

Research projects ongoing or completed during the last three years

Micrometastases detection in peripheral blood
Hypercoagulable gene mutations in preterm infants
Breast cancer and eiF4e expression
Breast cancer and hereditary mutations and other prognostic markers
Mutations in Gastrointerstinal stromal tumors (GISTs)
MTHFR mutations and hyperhomocysteinemia
Immunodeficiencies in patients with genetic syndromes
Pharmacogenomics in colorectal cancer- UGT1A1
Genetics and warfarin dosing – CYP2C9 and VKORC1

Selected Publications 2006-2007

Quick Compendium of Molecular Pathology

Daniel D. Mais, MD, Mary Lowery Nordberg, PhD

The third in the series and due February 2008 is the Quick Compendium of Molecular Pathology. Due to the rapid expansion of the field, this new quick compendium provides an accessible review of genetics, genetic diseases, and diagnostic molecular pathology. Practicing general pathologists will-with relatively little effort-gain an understanding of the nuts and bolts and most current practices of this burgeoning field. It is ideal for those seeking certification or preparing for recertification. 342 pages 34 tables 17 figures 16 chapters

Mahmoud SA, Lowery-Nordberg M, Chen H, Thurmon T, Ursin S, Bahna SL. Immune defects in subjects with dysmorphic disorders. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2005 Sep-Oct;26(5):373-81.

Shackelford RE, Bhalodia AR, Cotelingam JD, Veillon DM, Lowery-Nordberg M. Increased transferrin receptor expression following 11q23 deletion as a mechanism of malignant progression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Medical Hypotheses 2006; 66:509-512.

Dalal S., Boddapati M, Lowery MN, Veillon DM, Glass J, Munker R. Treatment of acute myeloid leukemia in a Jehovah’s Witness. Ann Hematol 2006; 85(6):407-408.

Mayer CW, Banhash S, Bocchini JA Jr, Lowery-Nordberg M, Bahna S. Serratia marcescens osteomyeloitis in an infant. Allergy Asthma Proc 2006; 27(6); 544-548.

Shackelford RE, Fu Y, Manuszak RP, Brooks TC, Sequeira AP, Wang S, Lowery-Nordberg M, Chen A. iron chelators reduce chromosomal breaks in ataxia-telangiectasia cells. DNA Repair 2006; 26(5):373-381.

Nathan CA, Amirghahari N, Rong X, Giordano T, Sibley D, Nordberg M, Glass J, Agarwal A, Caldito G. Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors as possible adjuvant therapy for microscopic residual disease in head and neck squamour cell cancer. Cancer Res 2007; 67(5):2160-2168.

Chintapalli N, Nordberg ML, Hiemenz J, Turturro F. Acute leukemia disguised as a solid tumor. Clinical Leukemia. 2007; 1(3): 198-200.

Bao F, Munker R, Lowery C, Martin S, Shi R, Veillon DM, Cotelingam JD, Nordberg ML. Comparison of FISH and quantitative RT-PCR for the diagnosis and follow-up of BCR-ABL positive leukemias. Mol Diagn Ther 2007; 11(4):239-245.

Wei EX, Anga AA, Martin SS, Jackson JG, Nordberg ML, Herrera GA, Turbat-Herrera EA. EGFR expression as an ancillary tool for diagnosing lung cancer in cytology specimens. Mod Pathol. 2007; 20(9):905-13.

Bao F, Polk P, Nordberg ML, Veillon DM, Sun A, Deininger M, Murray D, Andersson BS, Munker R. Comparative gene expression analysis of a chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line resistant to cyclophosphamide using oligonucleotide arrays and response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Leuk Res. 2007; 31(11):1511-20.

Nathan CO, Amirghahari N, Rong X, Giordano T, Sibley D, Nordberg M, Glass J, Agarwal A, Caldito G. Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors as possible adjuvant therapy for microscopic residual disease in head and neck squamous cell cancer. Cancer Res. 2007;67(5):2160-8.

Dancer J, Takei H, Ro JY, Lowery-Nordberg M. Coexpression of EGFR and HER-2 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a comparative study using immunohistochemistry correlated with gene amplification by fluorescent in situ hybridization. Oncol Rep. 2007;18(1):151-5.

Daniels LB, Shaya M, Nordberg ML, Shorter CD, Fowler M, Nanda A. Glioblastoma multiforme in tow non-nuclear family members. J La State Med Soc 2007; 159(4):215-222.

Abstracts:

Wei EX, Martin S, Turbat-Herrer EA, Nordberg ML. EGFR expression as an ancillary tool for detecting lung cancer in cytology specimens. USCAP 2006 Annual Meeting, February 11-17, 2006, Atlanta, Georgia.

Wei EX, Veillon DM, Cotelingam JD, Nordberg ML. Flow cytometric analysis of Vb repertoire for assessing T-cell clonal proliferations. USCAP 2006 Annual Meeting, February 11-17, 2006, Atlanta, Georgia.

Shackelford RE, Fu Y, Abdelbaqi M, Lowery-Nordberg M, Chen A. Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated gene product activity increases resistance to Aspergillus fumigatus gliotoxin toxicity. USCAP 2006 Annual Meeting, February 11-17, 2006, Atlanta, Georgia.

Dancer Y, Thibodeaux J, Moghadamfalahi M, Lowery-Nordberg M, Albores-Saavedra J. Characterization of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER2 overexpression in pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC): a comparative study using immunohistochemistry correlated with gene amplification by FISH. USCAP 2006 Annual Meeting, February 11-17, 2006, Atlanta, Georgia.

Bao F, Lowery CN, Martin S, Veillon DM, Cotelingam JD, Nordberg ML. Real-time quantitative assessment of fusion gene transcripts in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). USCAP 2006 Annual Meeting, February 11-17, 2006, Atlanta, Georgia.

Crawford P, Stevenson A, Lowery C, Gurley MT, Shackleford R, Nathan CA, Lowery Nordberg M.
Radiosensitivity in patients with suspected chromosomal instabilities Association for Genetic Technologists, Annual Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland, June 2006.

Munker R, Nordberg ML, Veillon D, Williams J, Roggero A, Cordova C, Haferlach T. Establishment and preliminary characterization of a new leukemia cell line. Barlow Symposium, FWCC, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, March 24 2006

Shackelford RE, Fu F, Manuszak RP, Wang S, Lowery-Nordberg M, Chen A. The ataxia-telangiectasia gene product is required for cellular resistance to transition metal toxicity. USCAP meeting, San Diego, CA March 24-40, 2007.

Primeaux TM, Martin S, Nordberg ML. Simultaneous Amplification of Topoisomerase II Alpha (TOP2A) and HER-
2 (ERBB2) is Rare in Select Patients with Breast Cancer. AMP 2007 Annual Meeting, November 7-10, 2007, Los Angeles, CA; JMD 2007; 9(5):687.

Bilello SJ, Walter A, Volodin L, Mills G, Lowery-Nordberg M. ERCC1 Expression in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers. AMP 2007 Annual Meeting, November 7-10, 2007, Los Angeles, CA; JMD 2007; 9(5):688.

Lopez Y, Martin S, D’Souza D, Nordberg ML. Diagnostic Testing of the JAK2 V617F Mutation Using Restriction
Fragment Length Polymorphism Analyses (RFLP) in Patients with Myeloproliferative Disease. AMP 2007 Annual Meeting, November 7-10, 2007, Los Angeles, CA; JMD 2007; 9(5):669.

Submitted for publication

Cruz NV, Mahmoud SA, Nordberg ML, Berlin K, Chen H, Bahna SL. Persistence of immune defects in subjects with dysmorphic disorders: a follow-up study.

Ditta L, Husak P, Crawford S, Mills G, Nordberg M. Using multiplex microarray analysis to determine prevalence and clinical significance of the UGT1A1*28 genetic polymorphism in a subset of colorectal cancer patients. Molecular Diagnosis and Therapy.

Nordberg ML. Molecular pathology- translating research into clinical practice- an expanding frontier in surgical oncology. Surgical Clinics of North America.