Samir Khatib, PhD

2007-2008 BCRF Project:
Co-Investigators: Moein Kanaan, PhD, Bethlehem University, Palestinian Authority; Mary-Claire King, PhD, University of Washington, Seattle, WA and Ephrat Levy-Lahad, MD, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

The goal of this project is to provide genetic analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 and cancer genetic counseling services for inherited breast cancer predisposition among Palestinian and Arab-Israeli women in the Middle East. In the Middle East, genetic analysis and medical follow-up services for breast and ovarian cancer risk are among the best in the world for Jewish women. However, neither genetic analysis nor follow-up services have yet been extended to women of other ancestries in the region.

The researchers propose to address this challenge. Leading oncologists in Israel and Palestine and a superb Palestinian-Israeli breast cancer advocacy group are their partners in this effort. Palestinian and Israeli geneticists, oncologists, and advocacy leaders know each other well. Thus women with inherited breast cancer, and women at risk thereof, can be referred appropriately in both Palestine and Israel. The missing piece of the puzzle is to identify these women by genetic testing within the context of genetic counseling.

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Mid-Year Progress Report:
The purpose of this project is to understand the genetic basis of inherited predisposition to breast cancer among Arab women in the Middle East. The project is sponsored by BCRF at Bethlehem University (BU) in the Palestinian Authority and Share Zedek Medical Center (SZMC) in Israel. Breast cancer has historically appeared less frequently among Arab women in the Middle East than among women in the West. However, breast cancer incidence is now increasing in the Arab population, and Arab women are generally diagnosed at younger ages, with more aggressive disease, and a higher proportion of patients have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. This suggests that genetic factors may play a substantial role in causing breast cancer in the Arab population. It is now possible to test for many of these factors, including mutations in the known breast cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, but this requires appropriate clinical awareness, knowledge of genetics, infrastructure for genetics counseling and testing, and provision for medical follow-up services.

In the first months of the project, the researchers' aim was to establish this necessary framework. To this end, Bethlehem University established a collaborative agreement with Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) in East Jerusalem, the major referral hospital for Palestinian cancer patients. The agreement includes creation of a Cancer Genetics Counseling Service for breast cancer patients treated at AVH and assures patients and their families of appropriate care and follow-up. A training course for Arab genetic counselors was developed by the study investigators, and six Palestinian women received entry permits to attend the course at SZMC in Israel. The classroom part of the course was completed in January, and in-service training of the genetic counselors is underway at AVH and Shaare Zedek Medical Center. The researchers now will be able to provide cancer genetic services to Palestinian women, and begin genetic analysis of breast cancer in this population. Ultimately ,this will increase our understanding of the causes of breast cancer and enable early detection and prevention in this population.

Bio:
Dr. Samir Khatib was born in Jerusalem in 1957. He received a BSc Biochemistry (Honours) 1979, from Liverpool University, England; a BSc Medical Technology 1982, from Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis; and his PhD in Biochemistry 1987, also from Indiana University School of Medicine.

His professional posts include: 1995-present: Director of Laboratories, Arabcare Hospital, Ramallah, Palestine; 2003-present: Director, National Blood Transfusion Services, also in Ramallah; and 1994-1995: Director of Laboratories and Blood Banks, Palestinian Ministry of Health.

His academic positions include: 1987-1993: Director, Medical Technology Program, Al-Quds University, Palestine; 1997-2000: Al-Najah National University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nablus, Palestine; 1999-present: Birzeit University, Masters Program in Laboratory Sciences, Birzeit, Palestine; 2007-present: Al-Quds University, Faculty of Medicine, Biochemistry Department, Palestine; and 2004-2005: Bethlehem University, Faculty of Science, Bethlehem, Palestine.

Dr. Khatib has memberships in: the American Association for Clinical Chemistry and the American Society of Clinical Pathology, both since 1982; the International Society of Blood Transfusion, since 2004; the American Association for Blood Banks, since 2007. His Board appointments include: Patients Friends Society, Jerusalem, since 1990; Palestinian Hemophilia Society, 1997-1999; Palestinian Medical Technology Union, 1998-2002; Palestinian Academy for Science and Technology since 1999; Medical Advisory Council, Arabcare Hospital, since 2001; and the Diabetes Patients Friends Society, since 2005.

Special consultancies include: Central Public Health Laboratories, Palestinian Ministry of Health, 1994-2001; External Quality Assessment Team Member, Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education and UNESCO, 2003; and Assessment of Clinical Laboratory Services in East Jerusalem Hospitals, Welfare Association, European Union Project, 2005.