My research is focused on the use of monoclonal antibodies that bind cancer cell surface receptors for cancer therapy in combination with chemotherapy agents, Wnt inhibitors, or radiation. This research involves investigation of the mechanisms of enhanced cytotoxicity produced by combination treatment. Orthotopic and metastatic breast, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer xenograft models are being used to optimize therapeutic regimens in collaboration with investigators from the Divisions of Gynecologic Oncology and Hematology/Oncology at UAB. We are also investigating the use of small molecule inhibitors of the Wnt pathway produced at Southern Research for cancer therapy and targeting of cancer initiating cells in breast, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer models. Other research involves cancer treatment with alpha-particle emitters conjugated to monoclonal antibodies. In collaboration with investigators at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, we are investigating the use of genomics to predict the response of patients with triple-negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or pancreatic cancer treated with chemotherapy. Recent efforts involve the use of histone deacetylase inhibitors to upregulate the MHCII pathway and immune response against syngeneic breast and ovarian cancer models, which is being investigated in combination with checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
