John M.S. Bartlett

Following training as a Biochemist and Reproductive Endocrinologist Professor Bartlett switched to translational cancer research in 1990. During his time at Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities (1993-2011), John built an international reputation as a translational research scientist which led to the award of a Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists and a Personal Chair at Edinburgh University.

During this time he also developed the UK NEQAS scheme for HER2 ISH testing and was responsible for a number of key publications in the field.

Professor Bartlett has published over 350 research articles.

Research Synopsis

Personalized diagnostics remains one of the most significant barriers to personalized medicine.

My Diagnostic Development group is building a focused research program to support novel approaches to personalized medicine in breast, prostate, and other cancer types. In collaboration with partners across Ontario and around the world, I am working to create and establish integrated omics approaches to cancer diagnosis.

I work with guideline panels (e.g., ASCO-CAP, TILs in breast cancer) to create better approaches to delivering novel assays in the clinic, bridging the gap between omics discoveries and cancer patients. These approaches are increasingly enabling more personalized treatment for cancer patients across Ontario and beyond.

My work is supported by several global partnerships including the EBCTCG and other clinical trial partners.

Recent Publications

John MS Bartlett, Alison F Munro, Janet A Dunn, Christopher McConkey, Sarah Jordan, Chris J Twelves, David A Cameron, Jeremy Thomas, Fiona M Campbell, Daniel W Rea, Elena Provenzano, Carlos Caldas, Paul Pharoah, Louise Hiller, Helena Earl, Christopher J Poole; Predictive markers of anthracycline benefit: a prospectively planned analysis of the UK National Epirubicin Adjuvant Trial (NEAT/BR9601), Lancet Oncology March 2010;11(3):266-74.

Bartlett JM, Brookes CL, Robson T, van de Velde CJ, Billingham LJ, Campbell FM, Grant M, Hasenburg A, Hille ET, Kay C, Kieback DG, Putter H, Markopoulos C, Kranenbarg EM, Mallon EA, Dirix L, Seynaeve C, Rea D. Estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor as predictive biomarkers of response to endocrine therapy: a prospectively powered pathology study in the Tamoxifen and Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational trial. J Clin Oncol Apr 2011;29(12):1531-8.

Di Leo A, Desmedt C, Bartlett JM, Piette F, Ejlertsen B, Pritchard KI, Larsimont D, Poole C, Isola J, Earl H, Mouridsen H, O'Malley FP, Cardoso F, Tanner M, Munro A, Twelves CJ, Sotiriou C, Shepherd L, Cameron D, Piccart MJ, Buyse M; HER2/TOP2A Meta-analysis Study Group. HER2 and TOP2A as predictive markers for anthracycline-containing chemotherapy regimens as adjuvant treatment of breast cancer: a meta-analysis of individual patient data. Lancet Oncol Nov 2011;12(12):1134-42.

Sauter G, Lee J, Bartlett JMS, Slamon DJ, Press MF. Guidelines for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Testing: Biologic and Methodologic Considerations. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2009;27:1323-33.

Bartlett JM, Starczynski J, Atkey N, Kay E, O’Grady A, Gandy M, Ibrahim M, Jasani B, Ellis IO, Pinder SE, Walker RA. HER2 testing in the UK: recommendations for breast and gastric in-situ hybridisation methods. J Clin Pathol Aug 2011;64(8):649-53.