Introduction

Our research focus, in the Division of Medical Oncology, centers on the development and application of experimental therapeutics and targeted agents for future cancer patient treatment. The primary disease sited focused on by our faculty include:

• bladder cancer
• breast cancer
• colon cancer
• hematological malignancies
• lung cancer
• melanoma
• pancreatic cancer
• prostate cancer

In these diseases, our research is focused on testing new drugs in models systems starting with in vitro cell culture and moving to in vivo models.

New compounds are developed within the Division as well as through collaboration with pharmaceutical companies. Mechanistic studies of the targeted agents to determine how they function to inhibit cancer cell growth or survival are the mainstay of our research.

In addition, studies of the mechanisms of resistance developed over time by patients to certain drugs and also studies of the innate resistance in some patients to certain drugs are a central focus.

Furthermore, biomarkers for predicting those patients who will respond to specific therapies and those who require a different therapeutic regime are under development. Comprehensive research core facilities as well as an extensive research community including bioinformatic support and collaborations support the research in the Division of Medical Oncology.

For information on individual labs, please click on the links on the right.