Gabriel Lopez-Berestein
Professor
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department of Experimental Therapeutics
My two major areas of interest are, nanoparticulate carriers for the delivery of nucleotides and small molecules in the treatment of cancer, and cell differentiation and apoptosis signaling in cancer. My laboratory exploited the use of lipid based carriers for the delivery of antifungal and anticancer agents, more recently we focused on the development of nanoliposomes and nanoparticles for the delivery of antisense oligonucleotides and siRNA to target major signaling pathways in cancer. Several of these targets were identified to play a prominent role in cell growth in our laboratory. We established and characterized the mechanisms involved in the suppression of tumor growth both in vitro and in experimental models. We were able to bring from concept to clinic seven different antimicrobial and antitumor agents, of which one, Abelcet, reached the market and others are different stages of clinical development.
As part of interest in cell death and differentiation in cancer we characterized the role of non-coding RNA’s (and RNA) both as tumor suppressors and oncogenic potential. These findings led to the identification of several proteins involved in key regulatory pathways of cell growth in solid and terms. A present two clinical trials are underway leukemia and another in solid tumors are based on our basic and applied science knowledge in nucleotide therapy.
Education & Training
M.D. - Universidad de Navarra - 1976