Scientist Profiles

Sally L. Glaser, Ph.D. Research Scientist, Northern California Cancer Center Director, Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry Consulting Associate Professor, Dept. of Health Research and Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine Member, Stanford Cancer Center

2201 Walnut Avenue, Suite 300
Fremont, California 94538-2334
E-mail: sglaser@nccc.org
Phone: 510-608-5042
Fax: 510-608-5085

Research Interests:

• Using registry data to document and understand patterns of cancer incidence and survival
• Understanding factors leading to the development of and survival after Hodgkin lymphoma
• Understanding factors leading to the development of and survival after breast cancer
• Understanding how Epstein-Barr virus is related to the development of cancers

Hodgkin lymphoma: Dr. Glaser has conducted numerous descriptive studies in the epidemiology of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Her analytic work includes a case-control study of reproductive factors for HL in women that yielded analyses of numerous additional risk factors and pertinent methodologic issues. With Dr. Richard Ambinder at Johns Hopkins and Dr. Margaret Gulley at University of North Carolina, Dr. Glaser evaluated the reliability of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) detection assays, generating interpretation guidelines to minimize this variation. Her current interests in HL involve genetic determinants of risk and their interaction with environmental factors; she is pursuing these ideas in collaboration with Dr. Sandra Horning at Stanford University.

Breast cancer: Dr. Glaser's analytic studies have focused primarily on immune function modulators. These include a population-based study of EBV and risk of breast cancer, and subsequent work with Dr. Gulley to develop a comprehensive panel of novel EBV assays to apply to a representative group of breast tumors. She collaborated with Dr. Henry Erlich to test the hypothesis that racial/ethnic variation in HL genotypes explains some portion of racial/ethnic variation in breast cancer incidence.

Surveillance: As Director of Surveillance Research within the Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry, Dr. Glaser built a research program dedicated to the insightful use of population-based registry data to inform understanding of site-specific incidence and survival patterns in various populations, particularly those defined by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status. New interests include evaluating population demographic trends for their impact on incidence, and examining the influence of the built environment on incidence and outcomes.

As Director of the Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry, Dr. Glaser is committed to excellence in registry function and preparing for changes facing cancer registration, including expanding data content to include more information on biomarkers, comorbidities and intermediate endpoints such as recurrence.

Selected Research Projects:

Glaser SL, Clarke CA, Gomez SL, O'Malley CD, Purdie DM, West DW. Cancer surveillance research: a vital subdiscipline of cancer epidemiology. Cancer Causes Control 2005; 16:1009-19. 

Glaser SL, Keegan THM, Clarke CA, Trinh MA, Dorfman RF, Mann RB, DiGiuseppe JA, Ambinder RF.  Exposure to childhood infections and risk of EBV-defined Hodgkin's lymphoma in women. Int J Cancer 2005; 115:599-605.

Clarke CA, Glaser SL. Population-based surveillance of HIV-associated cancers: utility of cancer registry data.  J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2004; 36:1083-91.

Glaser SL, Hsu JL, Gulley ML.  Epstein-Barr virus and breast cancer: State of the evidence for viral carcinogenesis.  Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2004; 13:688-697.

Glaser SL, Clarke CA, Nugent RA, Stearns CB, Dorfman RF. Reproductive factors in Hodgkin's disease in women. Am J Epidemiol 2003; 158:553-563.

All publications (78)

Education:

Web site Links:
Stanford website for Dr. Glaser:
http://med.stanford.edu/profiles/Sally_Glaser/

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