Research Interest:

I am primarily interested in the pathology of the skin with a focus on diseases and tumors of the melanocytes: nevi and melanomas. Secondary interests include the pathology of diseases of the breast and lung. My research interests include the elucidation of mechanisms of metastasis as a basis for the development of new and better approaches to the prevention and treatment of metastases in melanoma and breast cancer. Specifically I have developed the concepts that lead to the highly successful and popular techniques of lymphatic mapping and sentinel node dissection. I continue to investigate the pathobiology of the sentinel node, looking particularly at the extent of (tumor-induced) immune modulation of antigen presentation and the possibility of reversing that immune alteration as a basis for therapy to prevent or destroy metastases. Additional interests include techniques for the assessment of prognosis for melanoma patients on an individual basis.

Alistair Cochran, M.D.

Professor, Surgical Pathology