Developmental therapeutics for pancreatic cancer chemotherapy

 

Developmental therapeutics for pancreatic cancer chemotherapy
Our laboratory is interested in developing novel epigenetic-chemotherapeutic combination therapies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Our focus is on nucleoside (e.g., gemcitabine, 5-FU and capecitabine) and oliogonucleotide (microRNA) therapeutics. Over the years, we have developed several new insights into the pharmacology of nucleoside analogs and pathobiology of microRNAs in pancreatic cancer. Current focuses in our laboratory are to characterize the link between nucleosides, microRNAs, and therapeutic drug resistance. With evidence implicating the importance of nucleoside analogs and microRNAs in pancreatic drug resistance are accumulating, this project will identify the superior nucleosides and microRNA(s) useful in controlling pancreatic tumorigenicity and aggressiveness. In addition, the regulatory aspects of microRNA expression by stem cell factors and their clinical utility in predicting response levels for the microRNA-based combination therapy will be interrogated. Currently, in collaboration with experts in the areas of microRNA biology, clinical and translational sciences and oligonucleotide drug delivery, we are evaluating the role of miR-122-5p, SET oncoprotein, and the let-7 family of microRNAs as adjuvants for pancreatic cancer chemotherapy.