Molecular pathology is a branch of biomedical sciences that focuses on the progress, development, and evolution of diseases at the molecular level. It can be practically applied to patients, as well as being used in biomedical research to learn more about specific diseases, ranging from cancer to genetic conditions. Molecular pathology is usually treated as a subset of the field of pathology, but it also involves genetics, immunology, and many other aspects of the medical field, and people can approach it from various perspectives.
A molecular pathologist can perform a variety of tests to learn about the fundamental components of a cell, including the matrix of amino acids that makes up cellular DNA. In addition to performing amino acid sequencing, people in this field also look at cellular tissue samples and perform a variety of tests to learn more about the progress of disease in specific patients and in general.
A common use for a molecular pathologist is studying samples taken from cancer patients. The pathologist can analyze the specimen to determine where the cancer started and look for biomarkers that may indicate susceptibility to specific cancer treatments. For example, a breast cancer that is sensitive to estrogen will be treated differently than a breast cancer that is not. Using molecular pathology, an oncologist can develop a treatment approach that is tailored to the patient.
This discipline can also be used to study and evaluate genetic diseases, and to observe the results of pollution and other environmental influences on human health. Molecular pathologists study things like carcinogens to learn how they act in the body at the molecular level, determining which chemicals in a carcinogen are responsible for the development of disease. They also study the differentiation and growth of cells, both normal and abnormal, integrating a great deal of cell biology into their work.
People in this field can be trained as physicians, starting in a pathology residency and eventually working in molecular pathology. They may also train by studying for a Ph.D. to be able to work in research and laboratory science. In both cases, because this field is growing, evolving, and changing so rapidly, it is vitally important to attend conferences and other continuing education opportunities to keep up with changes in the field. A molecular pathology specialist may work in settings such as medical laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and research facilities.