Mailing Address:
East Carolina University
Brody School of Medicine
Department of Surgery
Greenville, NC 27858-4354
Current Professional and Academic Appointments
Professor of Surgery, ECU School of Medicine 2005
Associate Professor of Surgery, ECU School of Medicine 1996
Adjunct Appointments, Department of Microbiology & Immunology 1995
Department of Biology and Department of Physiology 1998
Medical Education
Undergraduate:
Kalamazoo College BA 1977
Postgraduate:
Iowa State University MS 1977- 1979
University of Iowa Ph.D. 1986
Special Interests
Detection of breast cancer micrometases, vascular endothelial cell biology, xenogeneic immune responses, gene therapy.
Research Activities
- Polymerase Chain Reaction and the Detection of Breast Cancer Metastases in Sentinel Lymph Nodes; (supported by the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program, Clinical Translational Research Grant and Career Development Award)
- The role of vascular endothelium in cell-mediated xenogeneic responses
- Vascular endothelial cell homing to sites of neoangiogenesis
- The role of vascular endothelium in cell-mediated xenogenic responses
- Vascular endothelial cell homing to sites of neoangiogenesis
- The role of anti-donor antibody and cytokine gene polymorphisms in renal allograft rejection
Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications
Verbanac KM, Carver FM, Haisch CE, Thomas JM. A Role for Transforming Growth Factor-Beta in the Veto Mechanism in Transplant Tolerance. Transplantation 1994; 57:893-900.
Tafra, L, Lannin,D, Swanson, MS, VanEyk, J, Verbanac, KM, et al. (2001) “Multicenter trial of sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer using both technetium sulfur colloid and isosulfan blue dye”, Annals of Surg 233(1):51-59.
Coleman TS, Pittman HK, Purser S, Haisch CE, Verbanac KM (2001) “Human T cell - porcine endothelial cell interactions induce human T1 cytokines and porcine activation markers”, Journal of Surgical Research 97:184-191.
Verbanac KM. “Molecular Detection of Breast Cancer Markers” (2001) Molecular Diagnosis 6(2):73-77.
Tafra L, Verbanac KM., Swanson MS and Lannin DR. (2001) “Preoperative chemotherapy and sentinel lymphadenectomy for breast cancer”, American Journal of Surgery 182:312-315.
Posekany K, Pittman HK, Bradfield JF, Haisch CE, Verbanac K. (2002) “Induction of cytolytic anti-gal antibodies in alpha 1,3 galactosyltransferase gene knock-out mice by oral inoculation with Escherichia coli 086.B7 bacteria” , Infection and Immunity 70(11):6215-6222.
Posekany K, Pittman HK, Swansons MS, Haisch CE, Verbanac K. (2004) “Suppression of Lewis Lung Carcinoma Tumor Development in Alpha 1,3 Galactosyltransferase Knock-Out Mice”, Anticancer Res 24(2B): 605-612.
Storey BT, Pittman HK, Christian JF, Haisch CE, Verbanac KM. (2004)“Characterization of Lewis lung clonal variants in a model of syngeneic pulmonary murine metastases”, Clin Exp Metastasis 21(3):265-73; Erratum in: Clin Exp Metastasis 21(7):663.
Rebellato L, Verbanac KM, Haisch CE (2005) “The current status of xenotransplanta-tion”, Current Surgery 62(5):481-488.
Backus J, Laughlin T, Wang Y, Belly R, White R, Baden J, Min CJ, Mannie A, Tafra L, Atkins D, Verbanac KM. (2005) “Identification and Characterization of Optimal Gene Expression Markers for Detection of Breast Cancer Metastasis”, Journal of Molecular Diagnostics 7(3):327-336.
Mannie A, Cheng Z, Sawyer K, Tafra L Verbanac K. (2006) Combined use of blood tests and imaging for detection of subclinical breast cancer recurrence, AACR Highlights: Clinical and Translational Cancer Research at the 2006 Meeting, #3613, p.153; Proceedings of the American Association of Cancer Research 47:3613.
Selected Book Chapters
Thomas JM, Verbanac KM. Tolerance Induction: Basic Concepts and Therapeutic Approaches. In Principles of Drug Design in Transplantation and Autoimmunity (R. Lieberman, Ed.) Raven Press, New York, 1996.
Verbanac KM, Rebellato LM and Haisch CE. (2006) "The Immune System and the Immunocompromised Patient", in Modern Surgical Care: Physiologic Foundations and Clinical Applications (Thomas Miller, Ed., 3rd edition), Informa Healthcare, New York, Volume 1, pp65-90.
RebellatoKM, Ozawa M, Verbanac KM, Catrou P, Haisch C and TerasakiP (2007) “Clinical and Anti-HLA Antibody Profile of Nine Renal Transplant Recipients with Failed Grafts: Donor-specific and Non Donor-Specific Antibody Development”, in Clinical Transplants 2006 (JM Cecka and PI Terasaki, Eds.,) UCLA Immunogenetics Center, pp241-253.
Selected National/Regional Presentations
Verbanac KM, Mannie AE, Min CJ, Swanson MS, Lannin DR, and Tafra L. (2002) “RT-PCR detection of metastases in sentinel nodes of breast cancer patients”, Presented at the 25th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Breast Cancer Research & Treatment 76:S126, #504.
Invited oral presentation at the Veridex-sponsored pre-meeting symposium of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium New Applications of Cellular and Molecular Technology in Breast Cancer Management, San Antonio, TX, "PCR Detection of Nodal Metastases in Breast Cancer: Validation and Clinical Correlation", December 2, 2003,
Podium presentation, Fifth Annual Women's Health Research Day, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, “PCR Detection of Sentinel Lymph Node Metastases In Breast Cancer: Interim Report of a Prospective Multicenter Clinical Trial”, March 17, 2004 (Refereed abstract, no published Proceedings).
American Transplant Congress, Boston, MA “In vivo localization of exogenous endothelial cells and bone marrow cells to damaged endothelium”, Verbanac KM, Pittman HK, Storey BT, Haisch, CE; May, 2004 (oral presentation).
Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, New Orleans, LA, “Clinical Significance of PCR-detected metastases in sentinel nodes of breast cancer patients: An Interim Report” Verbanac KM, Min CJ, Mannie AE, Tafra L; June 5-8, 2004 (poster/discussion).
Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, San Antonio, TX “Multimarker quantitative RT-PCR detects nodal metastases in recurrent patients enrolled in multicenter sentinel node trial”, Verbanac KM. Min CJ, Mannie AE, Moreland M, Tafra L; December 9, 2004 (oral presentation, General Session).
Dept. of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program ERA OF HOPE Meeting , Philadelphia, PAVerbanac KM. Min CJ, Mannie AE, Moreland M, Tafra L. (2005) “RT-PCR detects clinically significant nodal metastases in patients enrolled in multicenter sentinel node trial”,June 2005 (oral presentation).
Invited participant, Maryland Breast Research Collaborative Event, Annapolis, MD, “Successful collaboration: A Scientist’s Perspective”, September 24, 2006 (oral presentation).
Invited participant, Carol Warner Symposium, Northeastern University, Boston, MA “From Embryos to Stem Cells“, October 15, 2006. (oral presentation).
Invited presentation, Anne Arundel Medical Center Breast Center, Annapolis, MD “Molecular tools for the improved detection of breast cancer metastases: 2006 Update on a multicenter clinical trial”, December 8, 2006 (oral presentation).
Reed J, Verbanac KM, Sawyer K, Moreland M, Cheng ZH, TafraL , M Rosman. Prognostic implications of isolated tumor cells and micrometastases in sentinel nodes of patients with invasive breast cancer, American Society of Breast Disease (31st annual symposium, April 12-14, 2007(poster).
Rosman, M., Sawyer, K., Cheng, Z., Verbanac, K., Tafra, L. 2007. “Prognostic Determinants in Sentinel Lymph Node Negative Patients with Breast Cancer,” 2007 ASCO Breast Cancer Symposium, June 2007 (poster).
Former Students
M.S. Students
1998 C. Justus Min, M.S. Biology. Thesis: Identification of Superior Markers for the RT-PCR Detection of Breast Cancer micrometastases.
Recipient, 2002 Helms Research Award
MD: 2007, The Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University.
2001 Tia Coleman, M.S. Biology. Thesis: In vitro characterization of human anti-porcine xenogeneic cellular immune responses.
Recipient, 2002 Helms Student Research Award
Biology Instructor, Mitchell Community College, Statesville, NC
2005 Allison Call, M.S. Biology. Thesis: The role of ELR chemokines in angiogenesis and vascular repair.
Recipient, 2005 Best Oral Presentation East Campus, ECU Graduate Student Research Day and Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society Grant-In-Aid
Enrolled in Alternate Entry program for Masters of Science in Nursing
Doctoral Students
1999 Karla J. Posekany, Ph.D. Microbiology & Immunology. Thesis: Evaluation of alpha 1,3 Galactosyltransferase for Cancer Gene Therapy
Recipient, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society Grant-In-Aid
2002 Bill T. Storey, PhD. Physiology. Thesis: Vascular Endothelial Cell Homing to Sites of Neoangiogenesis
Recipient, 2001 Volkman Award, Best Poster Presentation, ECU Graduate Student Research Day
Law Student, Arizona State University. Class of JD: 2008.
Current Molishree Joshi, Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Biomedical Sciences
Surgical Residents
1996 Brian Hoey M.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery, St. Luke’s Trauma Critical Center, Bethlehem, PA, University of Pennsylvania System.
1998 Clint Atkinson M.D.
Vascular Surgeon, Pinehurst, NC
1999 Joseph Franklin M.D.,
Recipient 2001 ECU Minges Surgical Resident Research Award,
Plastic Surgeon, Greenville, NC.
Honors and Other Professional Activities
American Association of Immunology; American Society of Transplantation, American Association of Cancer Research; Women in Cancer Research
Reviewer, Transplantation, Leukemia, Molecular Diagnosis, Current Surgery, Cancer Immunol & Immunotherapy
Reviewer, American Heart Association, North Carolina Affiliate, 1995-97
Reviewer, American Heart Association Mid-Atlantic Peer Review Consortium, 1998-2002.
Recipient, Helms Faculty Research Award, East Carolina University, 2002
Recipient, Wolff-Hulka Innovators Award, University of North Carolina 5th Annual Women’s Health Research Day, The Center for Women’s Health Research, 2004
Ad hoc member, Integration Panel, DOD Breast Cancer Research Program, 2006, 2007
