The Developmental Therapeutics Program plays a vital bridging role in the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center by being the main conduit for the translation of basic and epidemiological research discoveries in the Thematic and Translational Research Programs into pilot and early phase clinical trials.
In addition, it conducts laboratory studies that identify strategies for new and more effective therapy for solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.
The program's investigations are based upon the hypothesis that improved treatment will result from these advances: 1) a better understanding of drug cytotoxicity and resistance; 2) identification of new cellular targets for drugs; 3) development of complementary biologic modes of treatment that can eradicate cancer cells resistant to commonly used drugs and radiation; and 4) initiation of clinical trials that include laboratory assessments of risk and response to therapy.
Phase I, Phase II and pilot clinical trials are conducted either at the USC/Norris Cancer Hospital, Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles or in USC-led trials located throughout the country in collaboration with consortia and cancer cooperative groups. Therapeutic approaches that show promise in early trials are developed into consortium Phase II and cooperative group Phase III trials.
The program harnesses laboratory and pre-clinical development of new therapeutic strategies for solid tumors and leukemia and facilitates their movement to clinical therapeutic studies. The two major areas of interest include cytotoxic agents and myeloablative therapy (including retinoids), and biologic therapy (including immunotherapy, anti-angiogenesis therapy and gene therapy). Important goals include understanding the molecular basis of drug resistance and using imaging as a surrogate response marker in both pre-clinical and clinical studies.
Researchers focus considerable effort on strategies for treating minimal residual disease with retinoids and immunologic and anti-angiogenesis therapies, as these latter approaches may not be affected by mechanisms that cancer cells utilize for resistance to traditional chemotherapy and radiation approaches. A major program effort is the Whittier Initiative, which funds pilot projects that could potentially translate laboratory ideas to the clinic.
The program has 38 members from 14 academic departments in two schools.
