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Professor

Sunil Lakhani

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 66052

Overview

Background

Sunil Lakhani is Executive Director Research and Senior Staff Specialist, Pathology Queensland, and Head of the Molecular Breast Group at the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR) at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

Prior to his move to Australia in 2004, he was Professor of Breast Pathology at The Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK

His current research interests include lobular carcinoma and its variants, normal and stem cells, tumours with a basal phenotype, familial breast cancer and biology and therapeutic development for brain and distant metastases.

He was series editor for the 4th Edition WHO Tumour Classification Books and volume editor for the 4th Ed WHO Classification of Tumours of the Breast (2012). He is currently Standing member of the Board for the 5th Ed WHO Tumour Classification Books. He is also on the editorial board of a number of pathology and experimental research journals.

Availability

Professor Sunil Lakhani is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours), University College London
  • Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and Medical Science, University College London
  • Doctoral Diploma of Medicine, University College London
  • Royal College of Pathologists, Royal College of Pathologists

Research impacts

The recognition that ADH is biologically very similar to DCIS has led to a policy of excising all ADH lesions diagnosed on core biopsies at breast screening assessment

The demonstration that LCIS is a clonal neoplastic proliferation with the same molecular phenotype as invasive lobular carcinoma, and the subsequent dissemination of this knowledge through publication (Lakhani SR 2003, Lancet) and conference presentations has also changed the management of LCIS. It is accepted that it is a non-obligate precursor, rather than a hyperplastic lesion.

The recognition of the pleomorphic variant of lobular is now changing the way this proliferation is managed. Like other lobular lesions, it is multifocal/bilateral but a more aggressive variant. There is considerable ongoing discussion on the international stage regarding management and my work has played a role in this policy change.

We have also shown that columnar cell lesions, which are increasingly being diagnosed in the screening program, are clonal lesions with a progressive relationship to low grade DCIS (Simpson PT et al 2005 Am J Surg Pathol). We have shown that morphological atypia is associated with molecular profiles similar to that of DCIS and hence patients with atypical lesions on core biopsy are now subjected to further excision. It has been shown subsequently that many of these patients have worse pathology on further resection.

My expertise, in diagnostic and molecular biology of pre-invasive breast disease has also been acknowledged in being appointed Head of Breast Screen Pathology, North Brisbane as well as being a member of the Breast Screen Quality (‘Q’) group in Queensland.

My work as part of the BCLC has demonstrated that BRCA1-related breast cancers are high grade, highly proliferative tumours and occurred in young women. Hence there was an immediate impact on breast screening protocols. I was invited to many meetings to discuss the pathology in relation to the following: (i) should mammography be used in young women and how effective would it be in dense breasts? (ii) should another modality such as MRI be considered? (iii) irrespective of the modality, should the screening interval be shortened to reduce the risk that patients would present with interval cancers?

All these issues have been addressed subsequent to the publications – in particular, I was member of the steering group that published the experience of using MRI in young women at high risk of breast cancer (Leach et al 2005 MARIBS The Lancet). MRI is now used in many countries to screen high-risk women. The screening interval has been reduced to 1 year as many patients did present with interval cancers as predicted by the pathology.

In extending the original work on morphology, my group has also demonstrated that a large proportion of BRCA1associated cancers are ER negative and ‘basal-like’. This led us to propose that this phenotype could be used to improve the risk estimation and carrier probability of women seen in family cancer clinics (Lakhani et al 2005 Clin Can Res).

We have now published a number of papers supporting the use of pathology data to improve risk estimation as well as improving the likelihood of unclassified variants (UVs) being pathogenic. This work has been done with previous BCLC collaborators (Prof Doug Easton) as well as with Georgia Chenevix-Trench and Amanda Spurdle at QIMR (Chenevix-Trench et al 2006 Can Res, Lovelock et al 2007 Br Can Res, Spurdle et al 2008 JCO, Spurdle et al 2009 Hum Mut, Mavaddat et al 2010 Br Can Res) This approach is now being incorporated into the genetics clinics.

Works

Search Professor Sunil Lakhani’s works on UQ eSpace

478 works between 1983 and 2025

441 - 460 of 478 works

1998

Journal Article

Immunohistochemical expression of BRCA2 protein and allelic loss at the BRCA2 locus in prostate cancer

Edwards, Stephen M., Dunsmuir, William D., Gillett, Cheryl E., Lakhani, Sunil R., Corbishley, Catherine, Young, Martin, Kirby, Roger S., Dearnaley, David P., Dowe, Anna, Ardern-Jones, Audrey, Kelly, Jo, CRC/BPG UK Fmilial Prostate Cancer Study Collaborators, Spurr, Nigel, Barnes, Diana M. and Eeles, Rosalind A. (1998). Immunohistochemical expression of BRCA2 protein and allelic loss at the BRCA2 locus in prostate cancer. International Journal of Cancer, 78 (1), 1-7. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0215(19980925)78:13.0.CO;2-U

Immunohistochemical expression of BRCA2 protein and allelic loss at the BRCA2 locus in prostate cancer

1998

Journal Article

Multifactorial analysis of differences between sporadic breast cancers and cancers involving BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations

Lakhani, Sunil R., Jacquemier, Jocelyne, Sloane, John P, Gusterson, Barry A., Anderson, Thomas J., van de Vijver, Marc J., Farid, Linda M., Venter, Deon, Antoniou, Antonios, Storfer-Isser, Amy, Smyth, Elizabeth, Steel, C. Michael, Haites, Neva, Scott, Rodney J., Goldgar, David, Neuhausen, Susan, Daly, Peter A., Ormiston, Wilma, McManus, Ross, Scherneck, Siegfried, Ponder, Bruce A. J., Ford, Debbie, Peto, Julian, Stoppa-Lyonnet, Dominique, Bignon, Yves-Jean, Struewing, Jeffrey P., Spurr, Nigel K., Bishop, D. Timothy, Klijn, J. G. M. ... Easton, Douglas F. (1998). Multifactorial analysis of differences between sporadic breast cancers and cancers involving BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 90 (15), 1138-1145. doi: 10.1093/jnci/90.15.1138

Multifactorial analysis of differences between sporadic breast cancers and cancers involving BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations

1998

Journal Article

Can magnetic-resonance imaging help elucidate natural history of breast cancer multicentricity?

Douek, Michael, Vaidya, Jayant S., Lakhani, Sunil R., Hall-Craggs, Margaret A., Baum, Michael and Taylor, Irving (1998). Can magnetic-resonance imaging help elucidate natural history of breast cancer multicentricity?. Lancet, 351 (9105), 801-802. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(98)24011-6

Can magnetic-resonance imaging help elucidate natural history of breast cancer multicentricity?

1998

Book

General pathology, microbiology and immunology for health care students

Playfair, J.H.L, Lydyard, Peter and Lakhani, Sunil (1998). General pathology, microbiology and immunology for health care students. Edinburgh, United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone.

General pathology, microbiology and immunology for health care students

1997

Journal Article

Breast disease in HIV positive males

Keshtgar, M., Davidson, T., Soundy, V., Lakhani, S. R. and Miller, R. (1997). Breast disease in HIV positive males. The Breast, 6 (5), 281-283. doi: 10.1016/S0960-9776(97)90005-9

Breast disease in HIV positive males

1997

Journal Article

Pathology of familial breast cancer: differences between breast cancers in carriers of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations and sporadic cases

Breast Cancer Linkage Consortium*, Lakhani, Sunil R., Easton, Douglas F., Stratton, Michael R., Anderson, Thomas J., Farid, Linda M., Gusterson, B. A., Jaquemier, J., Sloane, J. P., Venter, D., VandeVijver, M. J., Bishop, D. T., Barkardottir, R. B., Bignon, Y. J., Cornelisse, C., ChangClaude, J., Daly, P. A., Devilee, P., Egilsson, V., Ford, D., Goldgar, D., Haites, N., Hamann, U., Klijn, J. G. M., Lasset, C., Lenoir, G., McManus, R., Neuhausen, S., Ormiston, W. ... Vasen, H. (1997). Pathology of familial breast cancer: differences between breast cancers in carriers of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations and sporadic cases. Lancet, 349 (9064), 1505-1510.

Pathology of familial breast cancer: differences between breast cancers in carriers of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations and sporadic cases

1997

Conference Publication

Is there a benign to malignant progression?

Lakhani, S. R. (1997). Is there a benign to malignant progression?. 2nd International Meeting on Current Topics in Breast Cancer Research, Cambridge, England, Sep, 1996. Bristol, United Kingdom: BioScientifica.

Is there a benign to malignant progression?

1996

Journal Article

Terminology for carcinoma-in-situ of the breast

Quinn, Cecily, Ostrowski, Julian, Oxley, Dwight K., Sloane, J. P., Lakhani, S. R., Stratton, M. R., Baum, Michael, Simpson, Jean F., Jensen, Roy A. and Page, David L. (1996). Terminology for carcinoma-in-situ of the breast. Lancet, 347 (9010), 1259-1260. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(96)90774-6

Terminology for carcinoma-in-situ of the breast

1996

Journal Article

The cylindromatosis gene (cyld1) on chromosome 16q may be the only tumour suppressor gene involved in the development of cylindromas

Chapman, P., Lakhani, S. R. and Burn, J. (1996). The cylindromatosis gene (cyld1) on chromosome 16q may be the only tumour suppressor gene involved in the development of cylindromas. Oncogene, 12 (6), 1375-1377.

The cylindromatosis gene (cyld1) on chromosome 16q may be the only tumour suppressor gene involved in the development of cylindromas

1996

Journal Article

Detection of allelic imbalance indicates that a proportion of mammary hyperplasia of usual type are clonal, neoplastic proliferations

Lakhani, S. R., Slack, D. N., Hamoudi, R. A., Collins, N., Stratton, M. R. and Sloane, J. P. (1996). Detection of allelic imbalance indicates that a proportion of mammary hyperplasia of usual type are clonal, neoplastic proliferations. Laboratory Investigation, 74 (1), 129-135.

Detection of allelic imbalance indicates that a proportion of mammary hyperplasia of usual type are clonal, neoplastic proliferations

1995

Journal Article

Loss of heterozygosity in sporadic breast tumours at the BRCA2 locus on chromosome 13q12-q13

Cleton-Jansen, A. -M., Collins, N., Lakhani, S. R., Weissenbach, J., Devilee, P., Cornelisse, C. J. and Stratton, M. R. (1995). Loss of heterozygosity in sporadic breast tumours at the BRCA2 locus on chromosome 13q12-q13. British Journal of Cancer, 72 (5), 1241-1244. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1995.493

Loss of heterozygosity in sporadic breast tumours at the BRCA2 locus on chromosome 13q12-q13

1995

Journal Article

Atypical ductal hyperplasia of the breast: Clonal proliferation with loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes 16q and 17p

Lakhani, S. R., Collins, N., Stratton, M. R. and Sloane, J. P. (1995). Atypical ductal hyperplasia of the breast: Clonal proliferation with loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes 16q and 17p. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 48 (7), 611-615. doi: 10.1136/jcp.48.7.611

Atypical ductal hyperplasia of the breast: Clonal proliferation with loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes 16q and 17p

1995

Journal Article

neu Overexpression correlates with extent of disease in large cell ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

De Potter, Christian R., Schelfhout, Anne-Marie, Verbeeck, Paul, Lakhani, Sunil R., Brunken, Roland, Van Den Tweel, Jan G., Schauer, Alfred J. and Sloane, John P. (1995). neu Overexpression correlates with extent of disease in large cell ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast. Human Pathology, 26 (6), 601-606. doi: 10.1016/0046-8177(95)90163-9

neu Overexpression correlates with extent of disease in large cell ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

1995

Journal Article

LOSS OF HETEROZYGOSITY IN LOBULAR CARCINOMA IN-SITU OF THE BREAST

LAKHANI, , COLLINS, N, SLOANE, JP and STRATTON, MR (1995). LOSS OF HETEROZYGOSITY IN LOBULAR CARCINOMA IN-SITU OF THE BREAST. Journal of Clinical Pathology-Clinical Molecular Pathology Edition, 48 (2), M74-M78.

LOSS OF HETEROZYGOSITY IN LOBULAR CARCINOMA IN-SITU OF THE BREAST

1995

Journal Article

Consistent loss of the wild type allele in breast cancers from a family linked to the BRCA2 gene on chromosome 13q12-13

Collins, N., McManus, R., Wooster, R., Mangion, J., Seal, S., Lakhani, S. R., Ormiston, W., Daly, P. A., Ford, D., Easton, D. F. and Stratton, M. R. (1995). Consistent loss of the wild type allele in breast cancers from a family linked to the BRCA2 gene on chromosome 13q12-13. Oncogene, 10 (8), 1673-1675.

Consistent loss of the wild type allele in breast cancers from a family linked to the BRCA2 gene on chromosome 13q12-13

1995

Journal Article

Loss of heterozygosity in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

Stratton, M. R., Collins, N., Lakhani, S. R. and Sloane, J. P. (1995). Loss of heterozygosity in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast. Journal of Pathology, 175 (2), 195-201. doi: 10.1002/path.1711750207

Loss of heterozygosity in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

1995

Journal Article

Malignant myoepithelioma (Myoepithelial carcinoma) of the breast - a detailed cytokeratin study

Lakhani, S. R., Ohare, M. J., Winehouse, J., Gazet, J. C. and Sloane, J. P. (1995). Malignant myoepithelioma (Myoepithelial carcinoma) of the breast - a detailed cytokeratin study. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 48 (2), 164-167. doi: 10.1136/jcp.48.2.164

Malignant myoepithelioma (Myoepithelial carcinoma) of the breast - a detailed cytokeratin study

1994

Journal Article

Intravascular malignant lymphomatosis (angiotropic large-cell lymphoma). A case report with evidence for T-cell lineage with polymerase chain reaction analysis

Lakhani, S. R. and Hall, J. M. (1994). Intravascular malignant lymphomatosis (angiotropic large-cell lymphoma). A case report with evidence for T-cell lineage with polymerase chain reaction analysis. Histopathology, 25 (3), 283-286. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.1994.tb01331.x

Intravascular malignant lymphomatosis (angiotropic large-cell lymphoma). A case report with evidence for T-cell lineage with polymerase chain reaction analysis

1994

Journal Article

Renal allograft dysfunction due to vesicoureteric obstruction by nodular malakoplakia

Stern, S. C. M., Lakhani, S. and Morgan, S. H. (1994). Renal allograft dysfunction due to vesicoureteric obstruction by nodular malakoplakia. Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation, 9 (8), 1188-1190.

Renal allograft dysfunction due to vesicoureteric obstruction by nodular malakoplakia

1993

Journal Article

Early clinical pathologists: Robert Koch (1843-1910)

Lakhani, S. R. (1993). Early clinical pathologists: Robert Koch (1843-1910). Journal of Clinical Pathology, 46 (7), 596-598.

Early clinical pathologists: Robert Koch (1843-1910)

Funding

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2028
    Reducing invasive lobular carcinoma mortality by enhanced liquid biopsy monitoring
    NHMRC MRFF Genomics Health Futures Mission
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2029
    The EARLY study: Evaluating the Specificity and feasibility of the EARLY Test for Ovarian Cancer Detetion
    NHMRC Partnership Projects
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    High-resolution investigation of pre- and post-neoadjuvant treatment breast cancers
    National Breast Cancer Foundation Investigator Initiated Research Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    Implementing a Multivariate Index Assay for the Earlier Detection of Ovarian Cancer
    NHMRC MRFF EPCDR - Improving Diagnosis in Cancers with Low Survival Rates
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    Whole Genome Sequencing in high-risk breast cancer patients.
    MRFF Genomics Health Futures Mission, Project Grant administered by AusIndustry
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2024
    E-cadherin, ROS1 and synthetic lethality in ILC
    Breast Cancer Trials Clinical Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    ACRF Facility for Targeted Radiometals in Cancer (AFTRiC)
    Australian Cancer Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Detection of aberrantly glycosylated biomarkers as a novel approach to diagnose and monitor breast cancer (USDOD Breast Cancer Research Program grant administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Nanomedicine strategies for early detection and treatment of brain metastases
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    Centre for Translational Breast Cancer Research (TransBCR): delivering laboratory discoveries to the clinic (NHMRC CRE administered by The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)
    Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI)
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Hide and seek with hereditary cancer: Improving detection of colorectal cancer patients with a high risk of Lynch syndrome (Cancer Australia grant led by Cancer Council NSW)
    New South Wales State Cancer Council
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2021
    Exploiting the Remodeling of Ca2+ Signaling in Breast Cancer Cell Microenvironments to Control Metastasis and to Specifically Target Brain Metastases
    United States Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs - Breast Cancer Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2021
    Translating molecular determinants of susceptibility and progression in breast cancer (NHMRC Program Grant administered by QIMR)
    Queensland Institute of Medical Research
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Repurposing HER2/3 antibodies for treatment of brain metastases from breast cancer
    Cancer Bequest Fund
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    SoM Leaders Research Support for Head of the Discipline of Molecular and Cellular Pathology
    Mayne Bequest Fund
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Unravelling clinical and molecular heterogeneity in metaplastic breast cancer - a unique 'stem cell like' malignancy (grant administered by Cancer Australia)
    National Breast Cancer Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Repurposing pertuzumab for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer patients with HER2-positive brain metastases
    ANZBCTG Discretionary Funding - Research Seed Funding
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2019
    NBCF repository of primary tumours and metastases from breast cancer patients (National Breast Cancer Foundation grant led by The University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    The Brisbane Breast Bank
    Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2020
    ACRF Molecular Oncology Translational Imaging Facility (MOTIF)
    Australian Cancer Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Prospective study of breast cancer progression by content analysis of circulating exosomes in serially collected blood samples
    Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2017
    The Kathleen Cuningham Foundation Consortium for Research into Familial Breast Cancer (NBCF Infrastructure Grant led by UoM)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Defining therapeutic options for brain metastases
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    Molecular determinates of susceptibility and progression in breast cancer (NHMRC Program Grant 1017028 administered by QIMR)
    Queensland Institute of Medical Research
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Re-defining the molecular evolution of breast cancer and its precursors
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Tandem fluorescent and phase-contrast imaging of live cells in real time for application to cancer cell biology, developmental biology, respiratory biology, wound healing investigation and cellular to
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Understanding the heterogeneity of invasive ductal breast cancers - a proteomic approach for the discovery of biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets (NBCF administered through QUT)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Applying Inducible Pluripotent Stem (iPS) Cell Technology to Study Breast Lineage Differentiation and Tumourigensis
    Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Investigating Luminal and Basal Cell Difference: Molecular and Functional Characterization of the Normal Breast Epithelia
    National Breast Cancer Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2015
    Clinical Academic Fellowship - Senior Clinical Academic Fellow in Cancer
    Clinical Academic Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2013
    Elucidating genetic mechanisms responsible for familial hyperaldosteronism type II
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Improving the outcome of patients with invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Macroscopic fluorescence imaging system for identifying and isolating transgenically tagged cells
    NHMRC Equipment Grant
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Clinical and molecular analysis of multifocal/ multicentric in-situ and invasive breast cancers
    RBWH Private Practice Trust Fund
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2012
    Calcium Influx Pathways and Breast Cancer
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2009
    High-end optical in vivo molecular imaging system for stem cells, tumours, tissue repair and pathogens
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Fellowship
    Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    The role of the MYB oncogene in mammary carcinogenesis
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2011
    Beyond BRCA1 and BRCA2: pathways to breast cancer (NHMRC Program grant administered by QIMR)
    Queensland Institute of Medical Research
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2010
    Molecular Profiling of Breast Tumour Stem/Progenitor Cells
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2007
    The role of DEP-1 as a tumour suppressor in breast cancer
    Queensland Cancer Fund
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2008
    Research in the field of breast and human cancers and related immunopathology techniques in the Department of Pathology
    Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2012
    Molecular Pathology
    Cancer Bequest Fund
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Professor Sunil Lakhani is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Professor Sunil Lakhani directly for media enquiries about:

  • Brain metastasis
  • Breast cancer
  • Breast cancer - family history
  • Cancer - breast
  • Genetics - breast cancer
  • Myoepithelial cells

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