CANCER BIOLOGY
Dietmar W. Siemann, PhD Educational Background
Honors and Awards
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Vascular Targeted Therapies in Oncology
Tumor vasculature represents a novel target for cancer therapy. Historically, approaches to improve cancer therapy have focused primari
ly on achieving increased tumor cell kill. However, the recognition that most tumors remain dormant and fail to develop beyond a few millimeters in size in the absence of new blood vessel growth has led to another treatment approach that is receiving considerable attention. Vascular targeting approaches are based on the recognition that a continuously expanding vasculature is an essential requirement for tumor initiation, progression and spread. Rather than targeting the neoplastic cell population directly, this strategy endeavors to impair the tumor’s nutritional support system by targeting the tumor blood vessel network.
Research Areas
Vascular Targeting Therapies fall into two general categories. Angiogenesis Inhibitors aim to prevent new blood vessel formation. Vascular Disrupting Agents seek the destruction of the established tumor blood vessel network. Both types of agents are under active investigation in a variety of rodent and human tumor models in our laboratories. These agents are quite distinct from conventional anticancer treatments such as radiation therapy and cytotoxic drugs. Indeed the application of vascular targeting strategies as adjuvants to standard therapeutic modalities may offers unique opportunities to develop even more effective cancer therapies.
Current laboratory projects focus on:
- Characterizing the cellular and functional features of tumor vasculature
- Determining the mechanisms underlying the action of vascular targeting therapies
- Combining vascular targeted therapies with conventional anticancer treatments
- Developing gene therapy approaches directed against tumor blood vessels
- Exploring therapeutic interventions that inhibit the metastatic spread of cancer cells
