The focus of our laboratory is to develop and optimize novel virotherapy approaches in the treatment of cancer with special emphasis on paramyxoviruses. We are currently testing a number of different strategies including use of therapeutic transgenes; trackable markers; combinations with small…
more molecules, cytotoxic agents and radiation therapy; retargeting of viral strains against tumor specific antigens and tumor stem cells; novel viral delivery approaches such as cell mediated delivery into tumor targets; and immunomodulatory strategies to modify humoral or innate immunity as a means of further increasing viral replication in vivo. In addition, we have been able to translate laboratory advances into clinical trials of novel viral therapeutics in cancer patients. Our translational virotherapy program includes multiple phase I/II clinical trials in different solid tumors including glioblastoma multiforme, ovarian cancer, melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, mesothelioma, and head and neck cancer. These early clinical results and correlative laboratory analysis data in conjunction with ongoing preclinical work and vector optimization are forming the scientific basis for future clinical testing of promising therapeutics.
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