Faculty
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Edward J Shillitoe, Ph.D.
Professor, Microbiology and Immunology
Professor, Microbiology and Immunology
2241A Weiskotten Hall
Upstate Medical University
750 East Adams Street
Syracuse, NY 13210
(315) 464-7659
Lab/Professional Web Site
| Education and Clinical Training
Ph.D.: University of London, UK
BDS: University of London, UK
Research Program and Department Affiliations
Biomedical Sciences Program
Microbiology and Immunology
Research Interests Gene therapy for cancer.
Research Abstract
Research in this laboratory is aimed at development of viruses that can be used for therapy for cancer. We have developed a new strain of the herpes simplex virus in which the replication of the virus is controlled by a human papillomavirus. This targets the herpes virus to cancer cells, and allows more specific killing of the tumor. The new virus is currently being tested for its potency and safety.
In related projects we are finding ways to modify viruses further, so that they will not be limited to growing in cells that are dividing. This will require a better understanding of the cell cycle and its role in viral replication, and so experiments to explain these processes are in progress.
In order to understand the molecular targets for gene therapy, we are examining ways of making viruses more potent for cancer cells. These involve modifying viruses so that they express toxic ligands which attach to death receptors on cancer cells, thus inducing suicide of the cells.
The long-term goal of this laboratory is the development of strains of anti-cancer viruses that combine all of these possible features, and which could be tested in human clinical trials.
Selected References
H. Baker, V. Patel, A.A. Molino, E.J. Shillitoe, J.F. Ensley, G.H. Yoo, A. Meneses-Garcia, J.N. Meyers, A.K. El-Naggar, J.S. Gutkind and W.S. Hancock. Proteome-wide analysis of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas using laser-capture microdissection and tandem mass spectrometry. Oral Oncology 41:183-99, 2005.
E. J. Shillitoe and C. Pellenz. Factors that Limit the Effectiveness of Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 for Treatment of Oral Cancer in Mice. Clinical Cancer Res 11:3109-16, 2005
E.J. Shillitoe. Papillomaviruses as targets for cancer gene therapy (Review). Cancer Gene Ther 13:445-450, 2006.
S. Gibson and E.J. Shillitoe. Analysis of apoptosis-associated genes and pathways in oral cancer cells. J Oral Pathol Med 35:146-154, 2006. This profile was last updated on 09/29/2008
A short link is available for this profile:
http://www.upstate.edu/microb/faculty.php?ID=shillite
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