The major objective of Dr. Bernacki’s laboratory research program is the development of new chemotherapeutic agents and treatments based on the identification of novel tumor cell determinants. Major emphasis is being placed on studying tumor drug resistance mechanisms, metastasis, and angiogenesis as a means of identifying specific targets for therapeutic manipulation. This is leading to the development and selection of experimental drugs and treatments with the potential to overcome intrinsic and/or acquired drug resistance, decrease tumor angiogenesis and limit metastatic spread. Recent studies, with Dr. Mazurchuk using whole animal MRI imaging, have identified 1-[2-C-cyano-2-deoxy-beta-D-arabino-pentafuranosyl]-N4-palmitoyl cytosine, supplied by Dr. Kobayashi (Sankyo Co.), to be more efficacious than either gemcitabine or 5-FU in inhibiting the development and growth of liver metastases and increasing the life span of nude athymic mice transplanted orthotopically by Dr. Hoffman (AntiCancer Inc.) with a human colon tumor xenograft. These studies suggest that CS-682 may have an impact in the treatment of colon cancer in man.
Anticancer Drug Development; Drug Resistance; Metastasis and Angiogenesis