Emerging Technologies

The CHORI Cancer Center is committed to identifying and developing novel ways to promote cancer cell death, prevent metastatic spread and tumor progression, improve the specificity of treatments and deliver therapy more effectively to tumors.

Emerging Technologies under development in our Cancer Center include:

• Methods for modulating lipid-mediated signaling pathways to enhance the sensitivity of cancer cells to radiation and chemotherapy
• Tools to identify novel markers for the diagnosis of certain cancers
• Targeted delivery of chemotherapy to brain tumors
• Methods for protecting normal tissues from side-effects of cancer therapy
• Development of novel cancer vaccines and immunotherapy

Confocal microscopy indicates that fluorescently labeled nLDL particles are taken into the cell by LDL receptors and are found together in the cell's lysosomes, sac-like organelles which contain enzymes that can break down and destroy cellular components. Images on the left show peptides (green) and lipids (red), components of the nano-LDLs. When these images are merged (third from left), the yellow/orange color indicates that the peptides and lipids are in the same places in the cell. The final image (right) reveals that the sites where the nLDL peptides and lipids are localized are in the lysosomes, here outlined in blue

Confocal micrograph of the monoclonal antibody SEAM 3 binding to CHP-134 neuroblastoma cells. SEAM 3 recognizes polysialic acid that contains de-N-acetyl neuraminic acid residues that are expressed on many human tumors during cell division. SEAM 3 binding to neuraminic acid containing-PSA on the cell surface arrests cell growth and induces apoptosis. SEAM 3 is labeled in red and DNA in blue.

S1P is a signaling molecule that promotes cell survival and is increased in cancer cells due to genetic and epigenetic changes affecting S1P synthesis and metabolism. For example, downregulation of the enzyme S1P lyase in intestinal tumors leads to S1P accumulation and tumor progression. Overexpression or reactivation of S1P lyase in cancer cells sensitizes them to  radiation and chemotherapy. Shown is an immunoblot of extracts from cells overexpressing S1P lyase or vector control. Cells expressing the enzyme are more easily eliminated by chemotherapy or radiation, as indicated by enhanced cleavage of the protein PARP, a marker of apoptosis, or programmed cell death. Actin is used as a loading control.