FACULTY & STAFF DETAILS

Nicolas F. Schlecht, PhD, MSc
Associate Professor

Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Department of Epidemiology and Population Health
1300 Morris Park Avenue
Bronx, NY 10461
Phone: (718) 430-2307
Fax:      (718) 430-3052
E-mail: nicolas.schlecht@einstein.yu.edu

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Current research focuses on the molecular epidemiology of cancer and precursor lesions. Projects under development will investigate biomarkers involved in the development of upper aerodigestive tract, lung and cervical cancers.

Aerodigestive Tract Cancers: Head and neck cancers (including the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx) are among the 10 most common malignancies of both men and women worldwide, with 5-year survival rates of only 50%. While early studies by our group have shown tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking and their joint effects to be the most important risk factors for head and neck cancer (Cancer Causes Control 2001; 12:579-87; Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002; 128:313-8; J Cancer Epidemiol Prev 2002; 7:131-41), recent evidence has identified additional etiological links between HPV and genetic events and head and neck cancer (Oncol Rep 2005; 14:1239-46; Cytogenet Genome Res 2007; 118:92-109; Int J Cancer 2007; 118:1976-83). Furthermore, along the upper aero-digestive tract, there may be a higher frequency of genetic and epigenetic events as a result of exposure to smoking, alcohol and viral pathogens like HPV. My current research focuses on early gene expression profiles in the head and neck in subjects with cancer and precursor lesions (J Pathol 2007; 213:283-93; Head Neck 2006; 28:1018-27; Cytogenet Genome Res 2006; 114:16-23), as well as those who have been exposed to oral risk factors for carcinoma development including tobacco smoking (Laryngoscope 2006; 116:1375-9) and HPV (Oncol Rep 2005; 14:1239-46; J Pathol 2007; 213:283-93).

Cervical Cancer: Cervical cancer is one of the most common neoplastic diseases affecting women, with a combined worldwide incidence of almost half a million new cases annually, which is second only to breast cancer. Evidence from our research and others show that infection with certain types of sexually-transmitted HPV plays a causal role in cervical cancer. We have also found that precursor lesions of the cervix detected by cytology persist longer and are more likely to progress in women with oncogenic HPV infections (JNCI 2003; 95:1336-43) and high viral load (Int J Cancer 2003; 103:519-24), and that in women with normal cervical cytology, the risk of developing cervical lesions was 2-4-fold greater for women who had persistent oncogenic HPV infection (JAMA 2001; 286:3106-14). My research continues to focus on understanding the natural history of HPV, genetic profiles and their affect on the development of neoplasia in the cervix and other sites in adults and adolescents (J Low Genit Tract Dis 2006; 10:229-37; J Gen Virol 2005; 86:2709-20; Gynecol Oncol 2004; 92:856-65; AJE 2003; 158:878-86; Ca J 2003; 9:348-59; JID 2002; 186:164-72).
Division: Epidemiology
Campus: Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus

Research Interests: Cancer Epidemiology; Epidemiology Methods; Genetic susceptibility and cancer; HPV Infection; Molecular Risk Factors for Cancer; Women's Health
Research Projects: Cervical, Anal, and Oral HPV and Risk Factors Among (Inner City) Adolescent Girls; Effect of male circumcision on penile human papillomavirus infection; Epigenetic determinants of progression to high grade cervical neoplasia; HPV induced pathogenesis of head & neck cancer; Identification of molecular signatures predictive of high risk score in HNSCC; Natural history of oropharyngeal cancer precursors ; Proteomic analysis of head & neck squamous cell cancer; Role of human papillomavirus in oral lesions amongst an HIV-positive population.; The lifecourse approach to study the etiology of head and neck cancer: HeNCe life study
View Publications in Pubmed Database
Publications & Presentations

Dr. Schlecht is a Miriam Mandel Faculty Scholar in Cancer Research

Dr. Schlecht also has a faculty appointment in the Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology




Head and Neck Cancer Research Program
Head and Neck Cancer Research Program at Einstein focuses on patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The multidisciplinary group of investigators utilizes molecular genetic perspectives and technologies established at the Albert Einstein Cancer Center (AECC).
Head and Neck Cancer Program at Einstein