Barrett Lawson, MD
Department of Anatomical Pathology, Division of Pathology-Lab Medicine Div
About Dr. Barrett Lawson
I’m an anatomic and clinical pathologist with training in gynecologic-oncologic pathology. I have a special interest in ovarian tumors, tumor biomarkers and therapy response. I routinely review difficult and challenging gynecologic pathology cases not only from surgical specimens here at MD Anderson but also from cases sent from the outside for referral and consultation. In addition to my diagnostic responsibilities, I work on multiple research projects in collaboration with colleagues in gynecologic oncology. I also work closely with our pathology fellows in educational endeavors, including routine multi-head scope review and teaching of cases.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Division of Pathology/Lab Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2014 | Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX, USA, MD, Medicine |
| 2010 | Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX, USA, BS, Biology |
Postgraduate Training
| 2018-2019 | Clinical Fellowship, Gynecological Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 2014-2018 | Clinical Residency, Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2018 | American Board of Pathology, Anatomical and Clinical Pathology, Lifetime |
Experience & Service
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
ITB Co-Director, Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2020 - 2023
Other Professional Positions
Gynecologic-Oncologic Pathology Fellowship Program Evaluation Committee (PEC/CCC), MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2019 - Present
Institutional Committee Activities
Member/Reviewer, Protocol Assessment and Review Committee (PARC) for Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, 2021 - Present
Senator, Faculty Senate, 2021 - Present
Chair, ITB Advisory Committee, 2021 - 2023
Honors & Awards
| 2021 | Oncologic Pathology Teaching Award, MD Anderson Cancer Center: Anatomic Pathology |
| 2016 - 2017 | Medical Education and Teaching Award for Outstanding Teaching, Baylor College of Medicine |
Professional Memberships
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2024 - 2029 |
| Title: | A 3D endometrial pre-cancer atlas with spatially-resolved cellular and molecular profiling |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| ID: | FP00021077 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2029 |
| Title: | 3D Spatial Multi-Omics Profiling of Ovarian Cancer |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| ID: | FP00021171 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2025 |
| Title: | Oncoexaptation as an Opportunity to Detect and Intercept Early Ovarian HGSC |
| Funding Source: | PhRMA Foundation |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| ID: | FP00021816 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2025 |
| Title: | Transposable elements as an opportunity to intercept BRCA1/2- mutant ovarian cancer |
| Funding Source: | Basser Center for BRCA |
| Role: | Other Significant Contributor |
| ID: | FP00021969 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2027 |
| Title: | Cancer associated fibroblasts and TGFbeta inhibitor response in ovarian granulosa cell tumors |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| ID: | RP240204 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2024 |
| Title: | Leveraging Non-Coding Genomic Regions for Early HGSC Detection |
| Funding Source: | Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance |
| Role: | Other Significant Contributor |
| ID: | FP00020468 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2028 |
| Title: | Novel orally bioavailable imipridone ONC206 in advanced uterine cancer treatment |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| ID: | FP00018331 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2024 |
| Title: | Role of the pro-inflammatory omental microenvironment in ovarian cancer progression |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| ID: | 1R37CA261952-01A1 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2024 |
| Title: | Understanding and Intercepting Ovarian Carcinogenesis (MOD) |
| Funding Source: | Breakthrough Cancer (BTC) |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| ID: | FP00015204_Con1 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2024 |
| Title: | Targeting Ovarian Cancer Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Using Immune and DNA Repair Directed Therapies |
| Funding Source: | Break Through Cancer |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| ID: | FP0015195_Con1 |
| Date: | 2019 - 2020 |
| Title: | MD Anderson Gynecologic SPORE for Uterine Cancers |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| ID: | 5P50CA098258-14 |
| Date: | 2016 - 2023 |
| Title: | MD Anderson Gynecologic SPORE for Uterine Cancers |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| ID: | 5P50CA098258-15 |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Cun HT, Bernard L, Lande KT, Lawson BC, Nesbakken AJ, Davidson B, Lindemann K, Fellman B, Sørlie T, Soliman PT, Eriksson AGZ. Comprehensive molecular characterization of early stage grade 3 endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma. Gynecol Oncol 189:138-145. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39126895.
- Negri S, Fisch C, de Hullu JA, van Bommel M, Simons M, Bogaerts J, Consortium STIC focus group(Lawson, BC), Hermens RPMG, Steenbeek MP. Diagnosis and management of isolated serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma: A qualitative focus group study. BJOG. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39054407.
- Lawson BC, Marques-Piubelli ML, Westin SN, Malpica A. Folate Receptor Immunohistochemical Staining and Gynecologic Tumors: Initial Experience With 216 Cases. Int J Gynecol Pathol. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38914019.
- Bowen MB, Melendez B, Zhang Q, Yang RK, Fellman BM, Lawson BC, Adjei NN, Celestino J, Wani KM, Singh B, Urbauer DL, Lazar AJ, Lu KH, Wargo JA, Westin SN, Yates MS. Long-term follow-up of levonorgestrel intrauterine device for atypical hyperplasia and early endometrial cancer reveals relapse characterized by immune exhaustion. Clin Cancer Res. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38922360.
- Chien YW, Wang Y, Huang P, Lawson BC, Kolin DL, Chui MH, Vang R, Numan TA, Soong TR, Wang BG, Smith SA, Chen CL, Stone R, Douville C, Wang TL, Shih IM. Morphologic and Molecular Heterogeneity of High-grade Serous Carcinoma Precursor Lesions. Am J Surg Pathol 48(4):475-486, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38298022.
- Ferri-Borgogno S, Burks JK, Seeley EH, McKee TD, Stolley DL, Basi AV, Gomez JA, Gamal BT, Ayyadhury S, Lawson BC, Yates MS, Birrer MJ, Lu KH, Mok SC. Molecular, Metabolic, and Subcellular Mapping of the Tumor Immune Microenvironment via 3D Targeted and Non-Targeted Multiplex Multi-Omics Analyses. Cancers (Basel) 16(5), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38473208.
- How JA, Legarreta AF, Handley KF, Fellman B, Foster KI, Glassman D, Vuttaradhi VK, Brodsky AL, Lawson BC, Frumovitz M, Westin SN, Ramondetta LM, Gershenson DM, Sood AK, Hillman RT. Serial cytoreductive surgery and survival outcomes in recurrent adult-type ovarian granulosa cell tumors. Am J Obstet Gynecol. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38191019.
- Liu Y, Lawson BC, Huang X, Broom BM, Weinstein JN. RETRACTED: Liu et al. Prediction of Ovarian Cancer Response to Therapy Based on Deep Learning Analysis of Histopathology Images. Cancers 2023, 15, 4044. Cancers (Basel) 16(3), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38339431.
- Liu Y, Lawson BC, Huang X, Broom BM, Weinstein JN. Prediction of Ovarian Cancer Response to Therapy Based on Deep Learning Analysis of Histopathology Images. Cancers (Basel) 15(16), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37627071.
- Euscher ED, Marques-Piubelli ML, Ramalingam P, Wistuba I, Lawson BC, Frumovitz M, Malpica A. Extrauterine Mesonephric-like Carcinoma: A Comprehensive Single Institution Study of 33 Cases. Am J Surg Pathol. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37026792.
- Khlebus E, Vuttaradhi VK, Welte T, Khurana N, Celestino J, Beird HC, Gumbs C, Little L, Legarreta AF, Fellman BM, Nguyen T, Lawson BC, Ferri-Borgogno S, Mok SC, Broaddus RR, Gershenson DM, Futreal PA, Hillman RT. Comparative Tumor Microenvironment Analysis of Primary and Recurrent Ovarian Granulosa Cell Tumors. Mol Cancer Res:OF1-OF12. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37068116.
- Foster KI, Flores Legarreta A, Kamat R, Handley KF, Glassman D, How JA, Lawson BC, Westin SN, Ramondetta LM, Frumovitz M, Gershenson DM, Sood AK, Hillman RT. Clinical outcomes of leuprolide acetate in the treatment of recurrent ovarian granulosa cell tumors. Am J Obstet Gynecol. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36907533.
- Zhang X, Yao J, Niu N, Li X, Liu Y, Huo L, Euscher ED, Wang H, Bell D, Sood AK, Wang G, Lawson BC, Ramalingam P, Malpica A, Sahin AA, Ding Q, Liu J. SOX17: A Highly Sensitive and Specific Immunomarker for Ovarian and Endometrial Carcinomas. Mod Pathol 36(2):100001, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36853778.
- Silva EG, Lawson BC, Ramalingam P, Liu J, Shehabeldin A, Marques-Piubelli ML, Malpica A. Precursors in the ovarian stroma: another pathway to explain the origin of ovarian serous neoplasms. Hum Pathol 127:136-145, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35427637.
- Zhang L, Au-Yeung CL, Huang C, Yeung TL, Ferri-Borgogno S, Lawson BC, Kwan SY, Yin Z, Wong ST, Thomas V, Lu KH, Yip KP, Sham JSK, Mok SC. Ryanodine receptor 1-mediated Ca2+ signaling and mitochondrial reprogramming modulate uterine serous cancer malignant phenotypes. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 41(1):242, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35953818.
- Lawson BC, Yang RK, Euscher ED, Ramalingam P, Malpica A. TP53 variant allele frequency correlates with the chemotherapy response score in ovarian/fallopian tube/peritoneal high-grade serous carcinoma. Hum Pathol 115:76-83, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34153306.
- Hillman RT, Lin DI, Lawson BC, Gershenson DM. Prevalence of predictive biomarkers in a large cohort of molecularly defined adult-type ovarian granulosa cell tumors. Gynecol Oncol 162(3):728-734, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34238613.
- Chen PP, Ramalingam P, Alvarado-Cabrero I, Euscher ED, Nagarajan P, Lawson BC, Malpica A. High-grade Neuroendocrine Carcinomas of the Vulva: A Clinicopathologic Study of 16 Cases. Am J Surg Pathol 45(3):304-316, 2021. PMID: 32826525.
- Zhong Y, Liu J, Li X, Westin SN, Malpica A, Lawson BC, Lee S, Fellman BM, Coleman RL, Sood AK, Fleming ND. A Modified 2 Tier Chemotherapy Response Score (CRS) and Other Histopathologic Features for Predicting Outcomes of Patients with Advanced Extrauterine High-Grade Serous Carcinoma after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 13(4), 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33572451.
- Lawson BC, Euscher ED, Bassett RL, Liu J, Ramalingam P, Zhong Y, Fleming ND, Malpica A. A 3-Tier Chemotherapy Response Score for Ovarian/Fallopian Tube/Peritoneal High-grade Serous Carcinoma: Is it Clinically Relevant?. Am J Surg Pathol 44(2):206-213, 2020. PMID: 31651523.
- Shen W, Niu N, Lawson BC, Qi L, Zhang J, Li T, Zhang H, Liu J. GATA6: a new predictor for prognosis in ovarian cancer. Hum Pathol 86:163-169, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30633927.
Abstracts
- Vuttaradhi V, Khlebus E, Welte T, Lawson BC, Hillman R. Oncogenic Foxl2 directs enhancer reprogramming and changes in 3D genome structure in ovarian granulosa cell tumors. Cancer Research 84(5), 2024.
- Dai Y, Knisely A, Lawson BC, Lee S, Wani K, Segura R, Melendez B, Chen J, Liu Y, Chelvanambi M, Gibson L, Johnson S, Yeh C, Ingram D, Hudgens C, Cho k, Pei G, Jiang J, Chu Y, Lazar A, Gao J, Wargo J, Wang L, Jazaeri A. Longitudinal spatial profiling reveals chemoresistance mechanisms and characteristics of minimal residual disease in high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Cancer Research 84(6), 2024.
- Chien Y, Wang Y, Lawson BC, Kolin D, Chui M, Vang R, Numan T, Soong T, Wang B, Smith S, Chen C, Douville C, Huang P, Wang T, Shih L. Morphological and Molecular Heterogeneity of Serous Tubal Intraepithelial Carcinomas. Mod Pathol 104(3):S1125-26, 2024.
- Euscher E, Marques-Piubelli M, Lawson BC, Malpica A, Ramalingam P. 4 MLH1 Hypermethylated Endometrial Carcinomas Have Similar Outcomes to NonMLH1 Hypermethylated Tumors. Mod Pathol 104(3):S1141-43, 2024.
- Li J, Takamatsu S, Little L, Celestino J, Lawson BC, Hillman R. Liquid biopsy detection of structural variant breakpoints to monitor ovarian cancer clonal evolution. Clin Oncol 42, 2024.
- Cuna H, Bernarda L, Lande K, Lawson BC, Davidson B, Sorlie T, Lindemann K , Fellman B , Soliman P, Eriksson A. Comprehensive molecular characterization of deeply invasive, node negative grade 3 endometrioid adenocarcinoma (2285). Gynecologic Oncology 176(1):S307, 2023.
- Son J, Turner B, Lawson BC, Sun C, Hong D, Curran M. Changes in “don't eat me” signaling with radiotherapy in endometrial cancer (2301). Gynecologic Oncology 176(1):S316, 2023.
- How J, Legarreta A, Fellman B, Handley K, Foster K, Glassman D, Lawson BC, Ramondetta L, Gershenson D, Sood A, Hillman R. Impact of cytoreductive surgery on survival outcomes for recurrent adult-type granulosa cell tumors of the ovary. Clin Oncol 41(16), 2023.
- Vuttaradhi V, Khlebus E, Welte T, Khurana N, Lawson BC, Hillman R. Oncogenic Foxl2 is a chromatin-remodeling pioneer transcription factor in adult-type ovarian granulosa cell tumors. Cancer Research 83(7), 2023.
- Khlebus E, Vuttaradhi V, Welte T, Khurana N, Celestino J, Beird H, Gumbs C, Little L, Legarreta A, Nguyen T, Lawson BC, Broaddus R, Gershenson D, Futreal A, Hillman T. Tumor microenvironment composition correlates with relapse in ovarian granulosa cell tumors. Cancer Research 83(7), 2023.
- Welte T, Vuttaradhi V, Khlebus E, Lawson BC, Hillman T, Nguyen N, Sobieski M, Powel R, Stephan C. Targeting FOXL2C402Gvulnerabilities in adult type ovarian granulosa cell tumors. Cancer Research 83(7), 2023.
- Lawson BC, Malpica A. Borderline and Malignant Brenner Tumors: A Clinicopathologic Study of 43 Cases. Mod Pathol 103(3):S937-S938, 2023.
- Wang G, Liu Y, Malpica A, Eushcer E, Lawson BC, Hameed N, Sood A, Rafei H, Basar R, Rezvani K, Jazaeri A, Liu J. TROP2 Expression is A Favorable Prognostic Marker in Patients with Advanced High Grade Ovarian Carcinoma. Mod Pathol 103(3):S998-S99, 2023.
- Handley K , Glassman D, Legarreta A, Frumovitz M, Lawson BC, Gershenson D, Sood A, Ramondetta L, Hillman R. Tumor reductive surgery and survival outcomes in recurrent adult type granulosa cell tumors of the ovary (152). Gynecologic Oncology 166(1):S92, 2022.
- Zhang Y, Handley K, Glassman D, Legarreta A, Frumovitz M, Lawson BC, Gershenson D, Sood A, Ramondetta L, Hillman R. Anatomic patterns of recurrence in adult type granulosa cell tumors of the ovary (161). Gynecologic Oncology 166(1):S96, 2022.
- Cox H, Euscher E, Ramalingam P, Marques-Piubelli M, Lawson BC, Malpica A. Clear Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix, A Clinicopathologic Study of 33 Cases in the Post-Diethylstilbestrol (DES) Era. Mod Pathol 35(2), 2022. PMID: 35302092.
- Euscher E, Marques-Piubelli M, Ramlingam P, Lawson BC, Malpica A. Extra-Uterine Mesonephric-Like Carcinoma Is Associated with Endometriosis and May Behave Aggressively. Mod Pathol 35(2), 2022. PMID: 35302092.
- Euscher E, Ramlingam P, Lawson BC, Malpica A. Extra-Uterine Mesonephric-Like Carcinoma: A Single Institution Clinicopathologic Study of 21 Cases. Mod Pathol 35(2), 2022. PMID: 35302092.
- Wang G, Lawson BC, Euscher E, Ramalingam P, Malpica A, Yang R. Patients with Stage III-IV ARID1A Mutated Gynecologic Carcinomas Have Better Overall Survival when Treated with Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy. Mod Pathol 35(2), 2022. PMID: 35302092.
- Hameed N, Euscher E, Ramalingam P, Marques-Piubelli M, Lawson BC, Malpica A. Reporting Lymph Node Metastasis Size and Extracapsular Extension for Ovarian, Fallopian Tube and Peritoneal Carcinoma Is Not Clinically Relevant. Mod Pathol 35(2), 2022. PMID: 35302092.
- Euscher E, Ramalingam P, Marques-Piubelli M, Lawson BC, Rashid A, Malpica A.. Comparison of KRAS-Mutated Mesopnephric-Like and Non Mesonephric-Like Carcinomaj of the Endometrium. Mod Pathol 34(2):677-678, 2021.
- Abdul Karim L, Yang R, Ramalingam P, Lawson BC, Malpica A. Correlation of p53 Immunohistochemical Expression in Extrauterine High-Grade Serous Carcinoma. Mod Pathol 34(2):639-640, 2021.
- Griffin B, Malpica A, Lawson BC. Evaluation of Her-2neu Expression in Gynecological Cancers: An Oncologic Institutional Experience. Mod Pathol 34(2):688-689, 2021.
- Lawson BC, Yang R, Euscher E, Ramalingam P, Malpica A. Chemotherapy Response Score in Extrauterine High Grade Serous Carcinoma and Association with Mutation Status by Next-Gen Sequencing. Mod Pathol 33(2):1092-1093, 2020.
- Chen P, Euscher E, Ramalingam P, Lawson BC, Malpica A. High-Grade Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Vulva: A Clinicopathologic Study of 15 Cases. Mod Pathol 33(2):1028-1029, 2020.
- Ramalingam P, Yang R, Lawson BC, Euscher E, Malpica A. Next generation Sequencing in Peritoneal versus Pleural Mesotheliomas-Commonalities and Differences. Mod Pathol 33(2):1119-1120, 2020.
- Lawson BC, Euscher E, Bassett R, Liu J, Ramalingam P, Zhong Y, Fleming N, Malpica A. A 3 Tier Chemotherapy Response Score For Ovarian/Fallopian Tube/Peritoneal High Grade Serous Carcinoma, Is It Clinically Relevant?. Mod Pathol 32(2):67-38, 2019.
- Lawson BC, Malpica A, Gruschkus S, Bassett R, Euscher E. Circumferential Horizontal Extent in Microscopic Invasive Cervical Cancer, Is It Relevant?. Mod Pathol 32(2):66-67, 2019.
- Zhong Y, Lawson BC, Malpica A, Euscher E, Ramalingam P, Fleming N, Sood A, Liu J. Histological Features not Inlcuded in the Chemotherapy Response Score for Ovarian/Fallopian Tube/Peritoneal High Grade Serous Carcinoma, Are They Relevant?. Mod Pathol 32(2):137-138, 2019.
- Lawson BC. Clinical Behavior and Gene Expression in Borderline and Malignant Brenner Tumors. Virchows Archiv.
- Wolf C, Lawson BC. Using the MSPen Technology for Intraoperative Identification of High-Grade Serous Carcinoma Metastatic Sites During Ovarian Cancer Surgeries. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry.
Book Chapters
- Lawson BC. Ovarian Sex Cord- Stromal Tumors: Pathology and Prognostic Factors. In: Principles and Practice of Gynecologic Oncology. 8th, 2024.
- Lawson, BC. Chapter 9 Leiomyosarcoma. In: Diagnosis and Treatment of Rare Gynecologic Cancers, 2022.
- Lawson BC. Chapter 10 Uterine Sarcomas (Adenosarcoma, Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma and STUMP tumors). In: Diagnosis and Treatment of Rare Gynecologic Cancers, 2022.
- Lawson, BC. Chapter 11 Uterine Carcinomas. In: Diagnosis and Treatment of Rare Gynecologic Cancers, 2022.
- Lawson, BC. Chapter 13 Other Rare Uterine Tumors. In: Diagnosis and Treatment of Rare Gynecologic Cancers, 2022.
- Lawson, BC. Chapter 16 Vaginal Clear Cell Carcinoma. In: Diagnosis and Treatment of Rare Gynecologic Cancers, 2022.
- Lawson, BC. Chapter 18 Bartholin Gland Carcinomas. In: Diagnosis and Treatment of Rare Gynecologic Cancers, 2022.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified August 15, 2024