Research
The overall goal of the MD Anderson Ovarian Cancer SPORE is to test and translate novel therapeutic strategies, including those to overcome adaptive resistance to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi), anti-angiogenic agents (bevacizumab) and immune checkpoint blockade.
Projects
Overview
The principal investigators of the Ovarian Cancer SPORE are Anil K. Sood, M.D., and Robert C. Bast, Jr., M.D., and the research goal is carried out through four projects.
Project 1: The SIK2 inhibitor GRN-300 enhances PARP inhibitor sensitivity and cytotoxic T cell function in ovarian cancer
Project Co-Leaders
Robert Bast, Jr., M.D.
Professor, Experimental Therapeutics
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1950
Houston, TX 77030-4009
Phone: 713-792-7743
Fax: 713-792-7864
Email: rbast@mdanderson.org
Zhen Lu, M.D.
Professor, Experimental Therapeutics
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1950
Houston, TX 77030-4009
Phone: 713-563-3721
Email: zlu@mdanderson.org
Amir Jazaeri, M.D.
Professor, Gynecologic Oncology & Reproductive Medicine
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1362
Houston, TX 77030-4009
Phone: 713-745-1613
Email: aajazaeri@mdanderson.org
Objective
To determine whether salt-induced kinase 2 inhibition by GRN-300 overcomes PARPi resistance and enhances PARPi sensitivity and whether GRN-300 promotes adaptive T cell function and enhances immune checkpoint blockade
Project 2: Next-generation engineered NK cell immunotherapy for ovarian cancer
Project Co-leaders
Katy Rezvani, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Stem Cell Transplantation
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 423
Houston, TX 77030-4009
Phone: 713-794-4260
Fax: 713-794-4902
Email: krezvani@mdanderson.org
Amir Jazaeri, M.D.
Professor, Gynecologic Oncology & Reproductive Medicine
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1362
Houston, TX 77030-4009
Phone: 713-745-1613
Email: aajazaeri@mdanderson.org
Objective
To develop the next-generation NK-cell therapies for ovarian cancer by enhancing NK-cell potency and persistence through optimal co-stimulatory signaling, cytokine armoring and checkpoint inhibition
Project 3: Targeting EGFL6 in ovarian cancer
Project Co-leaders
Professor, Gynecologic Oncology & Reproductive Medicine
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1362
Houston, TX 77030-4009
Phone: 713-745-5266
Fax: 713-792-7586
Email: asood@mdanderson.org
Shannon Westin, M.D.
Professor, Gynecologic Oncology & Reproductive Medicine
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1362
Houston, TX 77030-4009
Phone: 713-794-4314
Fax: 713-792-7586
Email: swestin@mdanderson.org
Timothy Yap, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.
VP, Head of Clinical Dev, Therapeutics Discovery
1515 Holcombe Blvd.
Houston, TX 77030-4009
Phone: 713-563-1784
Email: tyap@mdanderson.org
Objective
To develop therapy aimed at the tumor microenvironment using a novel EGFL6 targeted monoclonal antibody
Project 4: Targeting p300 to overcome PARP inhibitor resistance induced by acidic tumor microenvironment
Project Co-leaders
Rugang Zhang, Ph.D.
Chair, Experimental Therapeutics
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1950
Houston, TX 77030-4009
Email: rzhang11@mdanderson.org
Shannon N. Westin, M.D.
Professor, Gynecologic Oncology & Reproductive Medicine
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1362
Houston, TX 77030-4009
Phone: 713-794-4314
Fax: 713-792-7586
Email: swestin@mdanderson.org
Objective
To develop a novel strategy to improve efficacy and/or overcome resistance to PARP inhibitors induced by acidic tumor microenvironment by targeting epigenetic regulator p300
Cores
Overview
Expand the sections below to learn more about the cores within the SPORE.
Administrative Core
Core Co-directors:
Professor, Gynecologic Oncology & Reproductive Medicine
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1362
Houston, TX 77030-4009
Phone: 713-745-5266
Fax: 713-792-7586
Email: asood@mdanderson.org
Professor, Experimental Therapeutics
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1950
Houston, TX 77030-4009
Phone: 713-792-7743
Fax: 713-792-7864
Email: rbast@mdanderson.org
Objective
To coordinate the scientific and fiscal responsibility for all projects and cores associated with the Ovarian Cancer SPORE and to oversee the Career Enhancement Program (CEP) and Developmental Research Program (DRP)
Pathology Core
Core Director
Professor, Pathology, Anatomical
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 85
Houston, TX 77030-4009
Phone: 713-745-1102
Fax: 713-563-1848
Email: jliu@mdanderson.org
Objective
To provide research investigators with the dedicated pathology personnel and services needed to conduct the unique requirements and scope of the SPORE projects. This core expands and complements the services provided by the existing Gynecological Oncology Tumor Bank and provides frozen and paraffin-embedded tissue and the histopathologic expertise related to the specific needs of each research project.
Biostatistics & Bioinformatics Core
Core Co-directors
Professor, Biostatistics
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1689
Houston, TX 77030-4009
Phone: 713-563-4271
Fax: 713-563-4243
Email: yyuan@mdanderson.org
Han Liang, Ph.D.
Professor, Bioinformatics & Comp Biology
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 237
Houston, TX 77030-4009
Phone: 713-745-9815
Email: hliang1@mdanderson.org
Professor, Biostatistics
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1689
Houston, TX 77030-4009
Phone: 713- 792-5310
Fax: 713-563-4243
Email: jning@mdanderson.org
Objective
Provide the statistics, bioinformatics and data analyses needed to distill useful information from the large amounts of data obtained from a wide variety of assays and to design and analyze the data from clinical trials