Development of Targeted Therapuetics

The Surgical Oncology tissue bank is a repository for patient tumor specimens and matched normal tissue accumulated by UCSF surgeon-scientists Robert  Warren and Eric Nakakura   These specimens can be matched to clinical outcomes and the genes encoding important tumor suppressors and oncogens proteins been sequenced in each specimen, making them an invaluable research tool. 

We have been able to grow these well-characterized tumor specimens in mice.  The tumors retain the properties of the human malignancy, thus permitting us to test novel, targeted therapeutics against cancers with well-characterized genetic abnormalities.   In pursuit of this goal, we are collaborating with Dr. Kevan Shokat, a UCSF researcher who has developed a novel panel of highly targeted small molecule drugs.  These drugs inhibit cell surface receptor tyrosine kinases, mTOR, and additionally impair the capacity of mTOR to activate autoregulatory feedback mechanisms that impair the efficacy of drugs presently being used or tested for use in patients.  

The significance of what has been enumerated above cannot be overstated.  To obtain approval for and then to test new drugs in human patient populations can take decades.  By using mice bearing human tumor specimens as surrogates we hope to rapidly evaluate and hopefully translate novel, targeted drugs to the clinic on behalf of or patents.