Clive R. Taylor , MD, PhD

Research Interests

Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer

The microscopic examination of tissue sections by a surgical pathologist remains the basis for cancer diagnosis. In recent years, however, there has been increasing recognition of the subjectivity of morphologic diagnosis, leading to development of special staining techniques including immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization that allow for specific identification of various cell and tissues components. Application of these methods to the diagnosis of cancer has resulted in radical changes in diagnostic criteria, and in the identification of many new previously unrecognized entities.

The search in our laboratory at USC has focused upon the identification of markers of different tumor types, development of new antibodies, and the standardization of this technology for general application by all surgical pathologists. More recently the focus has changed somewhat from the identification of particular tumor types, to the development of markers that establish prognosis early in the course of a tumor, as opposed to waiting for evidence of tumor spread. The correlation of these markers with clinical outcome is currently proceeding and provides strong support of the validity of this approach, supplanting more conventional methods of histological grading of tumors, or pathologic staging of tumor spread.

Monoclonal antibodies that have been developed for recognition of tumor types have also been taken to the clinical arena, based upon the rationale that if a tumor can be recognized in the tissue section, it may also be possible to use that same antibody to target the tumor in a cancer patient. Accordingly clinical trials are currently in progress using monoclonal antibodies against malignant lymphoma and against a variety of solid tumors, such as lung, liver, and colon cancer, in the United States, in Britain, and in China. Antibodies are linked to radioactive isotope or to biological active molecules, such as interleukin 2 or granulocyte monocytestimulating factor, to achieve an immunologic response against tumor.

Clinical Interests

Diagnostic immunopathology
Leukemia
Lymphoma
Cancer diagnosis and treatment
Anatomic and Clinical Pathology

Degrees

Cambridge University, PhD, 1975
Cambridge University, Emmanuel College, MD, 1969
Oxford University, MA, 1974
Cambridge University, MA, 1971

Internships

Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, 1969 - 1970

Residencies

Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, England - General Medicine, 1968 - 1969
Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, England, House Officer - General Surgery, 1970 - 1971
Oxfordshire Area Health Authority, Honorary Senior Registrar, 1971 - 1972

Fellowships

University of Southern California - Hematopathology, 1975 - 1976

Board Certification

Royal College of Pathologists, 1976
American Board of Pathology, Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, 1979

Memberships

American Society of Clinical Pathologists
International Academy of Pathology
Royal College of Pathologists
Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists
Histochemical Society
British Medical Association
Society for Hematopathology
The New York Academy of Sciences
American Association of Pathogists
College of American Pathologists

Clinical Affiliation

USC Care Medical Group
USC University Hospital
USC/Norris Cancer Hospital

Epstein, AL, Khwali, LA., Hornick, JL., Taylor, CR. Identification of a monoclonal antibody, TV-1, directed against the basement membrane of tumor vessels, and its use to enhance the delivery of macromolecule to tumor after conjugation with interleukin 21. Cancer Res. 55: 2673-2680, 1995.

Taylor, CR and Cote, RJ. Immunohistochemical markers of prognostic value in surgical pathology. Histology and Histopathology 12:1039-1055, 1997.


Taylor, CR. Paraffin section immunocytochemistry for estrogen receptor: The time has come. Cancer, 77: 2419-2422, 1996


Imam, SA, Kim, MS, Anker, L, Datar, RH, Law, RE and Taylor, CR. Systematic determination of telomerase activity and telomerase length during the progression of human breast cancer in cell culture models. Anticancer Res. 17:4435-4442, 1997.