Research

Laboratory and translational research

We concentrate on projects related to translational therapeutics:

• Signaling pathways in cancer and related diseases such as neurofibromatosis
• Development of liposomal curcumin, a plant-derived product, for clinical use
• Joint projects with the experimental radiologists to develop functional imaging for tumors
• MicroRNA arrays and other advanced technology for understanding tumor formation
  

Personalized cancer therapy

Investigational Cancer Therapeutics has developed a world-class clinical trials program. Our objective is to perform molecular profiling and match patients with novel, targeted drugs in the early clinical trials setting. The department is spearheading personalized therapy programs that match patients with targeted drugs based on their tumor's molecular profiles. One such project is called "IMPACT: Initiative for Molecular Profiling and Advanced Cancer Therapy," led by Apostolia M. Tsimberidou, M.D., Ph.D.

We now have early evidence that matching patients with targeted drugs in this way can result in response rates that are higher than would be expected without such matching. Our goal is to screen every patient for their tumor's molecular abnormality and use this testing to more choose the best treatment regimen for that individual.