The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department of Anatomic Pathology

I am a dermatopathologist with special interest in melanocytic, epithelial, and mesenchymal neoplasms as well as the application of histology to the diagnosis of lymphoid and infectious processes in the skin. In order to analyze these lesions we have used primarily morphologic analysis of cutaneous biopsies, with the aid of special studies (immunohistochemistry, in-situ hybridization, including FISH, and genetic signatures). My main research field in clinical research continues to be on prognostic characteristics in patients with melanoma, particularly those associated with the histologic analysis of the primary lesion and the sentinel lymph node. We have analyzed prognostic markers in vivo (e.g., iNOS, galectin 3, claudin, etc), and participated in the discovery of potential targets for specialized therapies in melanoma (e.g., c-kit, PDGF, etc). We have also worked in the analysis of biomarkers to detect an algorithm that permits distinction between primary cutaneous adnexal lesions and adenocarcinomas metastatic to the skin and detects biomarkers suitable to be used as targeted therapies (e.g., Her-2-neu).

After the expansion of targeted and immunotherapies in patients with cutaneous neoplasms, our group has devoted a significant component of our research activities to the analysis of features selecting for treatment and help predict survival. Similarly, we have reported the side effects associated with some of these treatments. Due to my experience in these fields, I have already participated in the current classification of the American Joint Committee on Cancer related to cutaneous melanoma and as author of the Blue Book on cutaneous neoplasms from the WHO.

PubMed

MDACC Faculty

Education & Training

PhD, University of Barcelona, 1991
MD, University of Alicante, School of Medicine, 1986