LLU&MC Scope, Autumn 1997, tumor registry

Donald Chase, MD, executive director of the California Tumor Tissue Registry, checks slide samples of tumors.

Donald Chase, MD, executive director of the California Tumor Tissue Registry (CTTR), is involved in a very interesting line of work. On a daily basis, he works with rare and unusual tumors. In his studies of various specimens, he is contributing to the quest for a better understanding of cancer and--eventually--a cure.

CTTR is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the enhancement of patient care via promotion of medical education, research, and diagnostic consultation. The CTTR began in 1929. At that time, only seven pathologists were licensed to practice in California. In order to better hone their skills, these physicians took turns researching interesting and unusual cases for presentation at a general meeting. In time, as more pathologists began to practice in California, it became apparent that there was a vast wealth of cases that were interesting and relevant to the pathology community.

A grant in the amount of $25,100 from the Cancer Commission of the California Medical Association made possible the establishment of a museum, a tumor board, and a cancer registry. In 1955, the name the museum was named the Tumor Tissue Registry of the California Medical Association. At that time, LLU alumnus and former dean of the School of Medicine G. Gordon Hadley, MD, was registrar, followed by Weldon K. Bullock, MD, now director emeritus of the CTTR.

Changes were underway for the fledgling Registry as increasing numbers of tumor samples were being donated and funding for expansion became even more necessary. In 1963, the organization became known as the California Tumor Tissue Registry, and Dr. Bullock was named its first executive director. The American Cancer Society, California Division, and the California Medical Association were its first sponsors.

Weldon Bullock, MD, director emeritus of the California Tumor Tissue Registry, commutes from Pasadena several days a week to work at the Registry. He is proud of the accomplishments of the Registry, and enjoys his work there immensely.

The Registry was originally based at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center in Los Angeles, but then moved, first to the Huntington Memorial Medical Center in Pasadena, and subsequently to its current location in the Alumni Hall for Basic Sciences on the Loma Linda campus.

Dr. Bullock served as executive director until June of 1995, at which point Dr. Donald Chase assumed responsibilities as the new executive director. Dr. Bullock says, "At the time it [the CTTR] was founded, numerous LLU School of Medicine faculty played a critical role in the original foundation. Many other pathologists participated in its early years at the Los Angeles County Hospital. Since moving here, and changing directorship to Dr. Donald Chase, we have made many good changes. We are blessed with three of the best secretaries and tissue technicians; they have been responsible for our large production of teaching sets and semi-annual tumor seminars."

Goals of the Registry are focused in three main areas. According to Dr. Chase, the Registry is first concerned with the education and betterment of patient care. "By providing its subscribers with slides of rare and unusual tumors, the Registry broadens the experience of local and distant pathology communities. The study sets serve as points of study and discussion, resulting in more uniform diagnoses and patient care."

Second, CTTR is dedicated to providing quality consultation. The pathology staff of Loma Linda University Medical Center serve as consultants to the Registry, providing multiple areas of expertise.

Last, CTTR is devoted to research. As a repository of rare tumors (more than 30,000 accessions and 30,000 consultations), the Registry serves as an invaluable resource center for cancer research. This year, the Registry expects to do about 500 consultations.

The very nature of the California Tumor Tissue Registry work means that the center is involved in crucial and potentially lifesaving work in the field of cancer research. Study sets that are circulated throughout 44 states and 10 countries consist of "real cases, real glass slides of real tumors from real patients," says Dr. Chase.

The sets are sent to study groups comprised of two to fifteen pathologists. The pathologists "study a particular slide, make their diagnosis, and send it back to us. We then tabulate the results from these multiple study groups and send out a list of what that particular tumor has been called by people in these 10 countries, 44 states, and numerous teaching programs. Then we give a final diagnosis which serves as quality control on diagnostic pathology for everyone who utilizes our study sets. In other words, we try to keep cancer diagnosis at the same level across the country," explains Dr. Chase. "This is an invaluable service for a discipline that has no absolute standard against which to measure a diagnosis," he adds.

To further enhance the educational endeavors put forth by the Registry, two semi-annual seminars featuring leading pathologists in the nation are sponsored. According to Dr. Chase, these seminars feature speakers who make up a "who's who" list in the pathology community.

The California Tumor Tissue Registry continues to help set apart Loma Linda University from many other institutions and serves as an example of the benefits of cutting-edge research integrated with the art of medicine.