Research in the laboratory, particularly into hematopoietic malignancies (leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma) as well as into the process of metastasis in various solid tumor systems, continues to identify potential therapeutic targets. Consequently a program has been established to validate these targets and identify novel therapeutic agents that can be moved into clinical trial.
The laboratory is involved in a number of translational projects using human tumor xenografts models of orthotopic or disseminated human tumor cell lines in NOD/SCID mice in conjunction with whole body luciferase imaging technology. We are currently employing panels of human hematopoietic tumor lines (lymphoma, multiple myeloma, acute myeloid leukemia) and solid tumors (ovarian, breast, colorectal) and evaluating therapeutic antibodies directed against receptors (VEGF receptors, Insulin-like growth factor receptors, FGFR, Flt3 receptor, cKit receptor). We are also evaluating small molecules targeting telomerase or tyrosine kinases, antagonists of HSP90 or CXCR4, and synthetic analogs of epothilone and migrastatin.
