Welcome III / General Session VIII: Molecular Target Therapy Approaches 2010
Track
:
General Sessions
Program Code:
15
Date:
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Time:
7:55 AM to 9:30 AM
EST
Duration:
95 Minutes
Location:
Akimel 3-4 Ballroom
MODERATOR:
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about each speaker.
Paul Harari, M.D., Professor, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine
Dr. Paul M. Harari is the Jack Fowler Professor and Chairman of the Department of Human Oncology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Harari earned his Bachelors degree at Tufts University (1980) and Medical degree at the University of Virginia (1984). He completed his Internal Medicine Internship at the University of California Davis and Radiation Oncology Residency Training at the University of Arizona (1990). His clinical and laboratory research focuses primarily on treatment advances for head and neck cancer patients with emphasis on the interaction of molecular growth inhibitors combined with radiation. He serves as the Principal Investigator for a series of federal and industry sponsored research grants that examine the interaction of molecular growth inhibitors with radiation. Dr. Harari has served as Chairman of the ASTRO Education Committee (2004-2008) and on the ASCO Education and Program Committees. He directed the Radiation Oncology Residency Training Program at the University of Wisconsin from 1997-2007. Dr. Harari has authored over 150 original research articles and book chapters on cancer research topics with particular emphasis on the treatment of head and neck cancer.
SPEAKER(S):
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about each speaker.
Paul Harari, M.D., Professor, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine
Dr. Paul M. Harari is the Jack Fowler Professor and Chairman of the Department of Human Oncology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Harari earned his Bachelors degree at Tufts University (1980) and Medical degree at the University of Virginia (1984). He completed his Internal Medicine Internship at the University of California Davis and Radiation Oncology Residency Training at the University of Arizona (1990). His clinical and laboratory research focuses primarily on treatment advances for head and neck cancer patients with emphasis on the interaction of molecular growth inhibitors combined with radiation. He serves as the Principal Investigator for a series of federal and industry sponsored research grants that examine the interaction of molecular growth inhibitors with radiation. Dr. Harari has served as Chairman of the ASTRO Education Committee (2004-2008) and on the ASCO Education and Program Committees. He directed the Radiation Oncology Residency Training Program at the University of Wisconsin from 1997-2007. Dr. Harari has authored over 150 original research articles and book chapters on cancer research topics with particular emphasis on the treatment of head and neck cancer.
Ezra Cohen, M.D., Associate Professor, The University of Chicago
Bonnie Glisson, M.D., Professor, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
co-PI project in HN spore grant (MDACC): Targeting the IGF axis and EGFR in therapy of HNSCC
National PI: Randomized Phase II trial of IMC-A12 +/- cetuximab for patients with platin-refractory HNSCC
National Chair: RTOG 0928, Targeting IGF-1R in combined modality therapy of HPV-negative HNSCC
Deric Wheeler, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine
The focus of my laboratory centers around the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) which is ubiquitously expressed receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK). Upon ligand binding, the EGFR initiates a spectrum of signaling pathways that promote cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, motility, and cellular adhesion. The EGFR is recognized as a key mediator of proliferation and progression in many human tumors and strategies to inhibit EGFR signaling have emerged as highly promising cancer therapy approaches. Following more than 20 years of preclinical development, five EGFR inhibitors, two monoclonal antibodies and three small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), have recently gained FDA approval in oncology (cetuximab, panitumumab, erlotinib, gefitinib and lapatinib). Both strategies of EGFR inhibition have demonstrated major tumor regressions in approximately 10-20% of advanced cancer patients. However, many tumors do not show response to EGFR inhibition and some of the responders eventually manifest resistance to treatment. The underlying mechanisms of intrinsic and acquired resistance to EGFR inhibitors remain largely unexplored. In an effort to examine mechanisms of acquired resistance to EGFR inhibition we have developed a series of cetuximab-resistant cancer cell lines (H&NSCC1 and NCI-H226) models to elucidate molecular pathways leading to resistance to targeted therapies. The overall goal is to elucidate pathways that resistant cells have activated and aim at blocking these pathways and restoring sensitivity to the original target agents.