In collaboration with the Departments of Hematology/Oncology and Pathology, immunohistochemical, microarray and FACS analysis of sentinel and non sentinel nodes are evaluated to determine if changes in the immune profile of tumor draining lymph nodes may predict prognosis and survival in cancer patients. Additional study of mechanism of immunosuppression in patients with cancer is another important area of investigation.
In collaboration with the Departments of Radiation Oncology, Dermatology and Nuclear Medicine determination of accuracy of detecting intraoperative cancers using a PET intraoperative probe are currently under investigation.
The study of intraoperative imaging of sentinel nodes using a hand held gamma camera which may allow for more accurate and thorough identification of sentinel lymph nodes in cancer patients.
The outcome of breast cancer patients in diverse populations is an active area of investigation. Recent reports note that there are significant differences in expression in specific genes, receptors and proteins in patients from diverse backgrounds which effect survival. Tissue samples from diverse populations in the US and other countries will be analyzed for gene and receptor expression in large population studies.
Development of a interdisciplinary translational program which will analyze stem cells from all stages of melanoma patients.

• HIV aids orphan outreach, South Africa More 
• National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Silicon Valley More 
• Foundation Spokesperson, San Francisco More 
• International American College of Surgeons Scientific Program, South Africa More 
• Breast and Cervical Cancer Advisory Board More 

• Iagaru A, Iagaru A, Quon A, Johnson D, Gambhir S, McDougall, IR "2 Reoxy-2 (F-18) Fluoro-D glucose positron emission tomography computed tomography in the management of melanoma" Mol. Imaging Biol 2007; 1: 9: 50-57. More
• Tsai EY, Taur A, Espinosa L, Quon A, Johnson D, Dick S, Chow S, Advani R, Warnke R, Kohler S, Hoppe RT, Kim YH "Staging accuracy in mycosis fungoides/Sezary syndrome using integrated positron emission tomography and computer tomography" Arch of Dermatology 2006; 5: 142: 577-584 More
• Berk DR, Johnson DL, Uzieblo A, Kiernan M, Swetter S "Sentinel lymph node biopsy for cutaneous melanomas: the Stanford experience, 1997-2004" Arch of Dermatology 2005; 8: 141: 1016-1022 More
• Kohrt HE, Nouri N, Nowels K, Johnson D, Holmes S, Lee PP "Profile of Immune Cells in Axillary Lymph Nodes Predicts Disease Free Survival in Breast Cancer" Public Library of Science 2005; 2: 9: 284 More
• Muller CB, ...Johnson DL, Yanagisako S, Chou-Green JM, Robinson S "Gender Differences and performance in science" Science 2005; 5712: 307: 1043 More