Projects

The overall goal of our translational research program is to develop novel therapeutics and pharmacologically-driven strategies for improving the treatment of cancer patients. There are three major project areas:

Drugs that selectively kill tumor stem cells.

FcF2-MMAE is a non-antibody protein therapeutic targeted to the LGR5 receptor that is expressed on the stem cells of many kinds of cancer.  IND-enabling studies are underway that will advance this drug into pre-clinical development.

Drug delivery systems based on high-affinity naturally-occurring human proteins.

These projects exploit the high affinity and selectivity for protein hormones to carry cancer therapeutics to gynecologic malignancies that over-express their receptors.

New drugs for the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia.

This project investigates the mechanism of action of two new small-molecule kinase inhibitors that are being tested for efficacy in Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.