Dr. Maria E. Arcila, MD

Expert Publications

• Synchronous follicular lymphoma, kaposi sarcoma, and castleman's disease in a HIV-negative patient with EBV and HHV-8 coinfection.
• Screening for germline EGFR T790M mutations through lung cancer genotyping.
• Simple protocol for DNA extraction from archival stained FNA smears, cytospins, and thin preparations.
• Clinical and in vivo evidence that EGFR S768I mutant lung adenocarcinomas are sensitive to erlotinib.
• Additional Primary Malignancies in Patients with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST): A Clinicopathologic Study of 260 Patients with Molecular Analysis and Review of the Literature.
• AKT1 E17K in Colorectal Carcinoma Is Associated with BRAF V600E but Not MSI-H Status: A Clinicopathologic Comparison to PIK3CA Helical and Kinase Domain Mutants.
• Acquired Resistance of EGFR-Mutant Lung Cancer to a T790M-Specific EGFR Inhibitor: Emergence of a Third Mutation (C797S) in the EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Domain.
• Impact of Concurrent PIK3CA Mutations on Response to EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition in EGFR-Mutant Lung Cancers and on Prognosis in Oncogene-Driven Lung Adenocarcinomas.
• Identification of Targetable Kinase Alterations in Patients with Colorectal Carcinoma That are Preferentially Associated with Wild-Type RAS/RAF.
• HER2 Amplification and HER2 Mutation Are Distinct Molecular Targets in Lung Cancers.
• Optimizing Workflows and Processing of Cytologic Samples for Comprehensive Analysis by Next-Generation Sequencing: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Experience.
• Clinical Application of Picodroplet Digital PCR Technology for Rapid Detection of EGFR T790M in Next-Generation Sequencing Libraries and DNA from Limited Tumor Samples.
• Resistance to imatinib in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia and the splice variant BCR-ABL1(35INS).
• Next-Generation Assessment of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (ERBB2) Amplification Status: Clinical Validation in the Context of a Hybrid Capture-Based, Comprehensive Solid Tumor Genomic Profiling Assay.
• A case of acute myeloid leukemia with e6a2 BCR-ABL fusion transcript acquired after progressing from chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

Media Releases

Get to know Molecular Genetic Pathologist and Hematopathologist, Dr. Maria E. Arcila, who serves patients in New York, New York.

Dr. Arcila is a molecular genetic pathologist and a hematopathologist. As such, her work primarily involves the study and detection of genetic changes in cancer tissue. These changes can be used to diagnose and confirm the presence of individual cancer types and help tailor patient-specific treatment, determine patients’ prognosis and risk of recurrence, and monitor their disease once they start therapy. The doctor also works closely with clinical colleagues to diagnose diseases that affect the blood and lymphoid systems. She directly examines tissue and blood samples to diagnose, stage, and monitor hematologic cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and other diseases at both the morphologic and molecular levels.

In her current role, Dr. Arcila serves as the Director of the Diagnostic Molecular Pathology Laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York City, New York. Founded in 1884 as the New York Cancer Hospital, MSKCC is the largest and oldest private cancer treatment and research institution in the world, and is one of 70 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.

The doctor’s research is focused on the molecular changes that fuel the development of lung carcinoma and the search for possible therapeutic and prognostic markers in patients with this disease. Because of this interest, Dr. Arcila has become directly involved with the expansion, validation, and implementation of clinical tests at Memorial Sloan Kettering to detect mutations relevant to the management and treatment of patients with lung carcinoma.

Throughout her academic career, she earned her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She then went on to complete her residencies at Tripler Army Medical Center and Madigan Army Medical Center, followed by her fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 

Thereafter, she became board-certified in molecular genetic pathology, hematology, as well as anatomic and clinical pathology by the American Board of Pathology, one of the 24 member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties. 

In addition to being a local, national, and international speaker, Dr. Arcila has published well over 200 papers. She is a member of multiple professional organizations, including the College of American Pathologists, the American Society for Clinical Pathology, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, and the Association for Molecular Pathology. 

Molecular genetic pathology is the subspecialty of medical genetics and pathology in which the principles, theory, and technologies of molecular biology and molecular genetics are used to make or confirm clinical diagnosis of mendelian genetic disorders, disorders of human development, infectious diseases, and malignancies; to assess the natural history of those disorders; and to provide the primary physician with information with which to provide optimal care for individuals affected with these disorders.

Hematopathology is the study of diseases and disorders affecting blood cells, their production, and any organs and tissues involved in hematopoiesis, such as bone marrow, the spleen, and the thymus. Hematopathologists are highly trained healthcare providers who specialize in diseases of the blood and blood components. These include blood and bone marrow cells. Hematological tests can help diagnose anemia, infection, hemophilia, blood-clotting disorders, and leukemia.

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