Liver Cancer Vascularity Driven by Extracellular Matrix Stiffness: Implications for Imaging Research.

Background: Extracellular matrix stiffness represents a barrier to effective local and systemic drug delivery. Increasing stiffness disrupts newly formed vessel architecture and integrity, leading to tumor-like vasculature. The resulting vascular phenotypes are manifested through different cross-sectional imaging features.

Immune modulation by molecularly targeted photothermal ablation in a mouse model of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis.

Immunotherapy is a promising new treatment approach for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but there are numerous barriers to immunotherapy in HCC, including an immunosuppressive microenvironment and the "immunotolerance" of the liver. Hyperthermia treatment modalities are standard of care for early stage HCC, and hyperthermia is known to have immunomodulatory effects. We have developed a molecularly targeted photothermal ablation (MTPA) technology that provides thermally tunable, tumor-specific heat generation.

Influence of injection technique, drug formulation and tumor microenvironment on intratumoral immunotherapy delivery and efficacy.

Background: Intratumoral delivery of immunotherapeutics represents a compelling solution to directly address local barriers to tumor immunity. However, we have previously shown that off-target delivery is a substantial problem during intratumoral injections; this can lead to diminished drug efficacy and systemic toxicities. We have identified three variables that influence intratumoral drug delivery: injection technique, drug formulation and tumor microenvironment.

Molecularly targeted photothermal ablation improves tumor specificity and immune modulation in a rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Thermal ablation is a standard therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Contemporary ablation devices are imperfect, as they lack tumor specificity. An ideal ablation modality would generate thermal energy only within tumoral tissue.

What Are the Effects of Irreversible Electroporation on a Staphylococcus aureus Rabbit Model of Osteomyelitis?

Background: The treatment of osteomyelitis can be challenging because of poor antibiotic penetration into the infected bone and toxicities associated with prolonged antibiotic regimens to control infection. Irreversible electroporation (IRE), a percutaneous image-guided ablation technology in which the targeted delivery of high-voltage electrical pulses permanently damages the cell membrane, has been shown to effectively control bacterial growth in various settings. However, IRE for the management of bone infections has yet to be evaluated.

Sterile α Motif Domain Containing 9 Is a Novel Cellular Interacting Partner to Low-Risk Type Human Papillomavirus E6 Proteins.

Low-risk type human papillomavirus (HPV) 6 and 11 infection causes recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) and genital warts. RRP is the most common benign tumor of the larynx in children with frequent relapses. Repeated surgeries are often needed to improve vocal function and prevent life-threatening respiratory obstruction.

E6 proteins from low-risk human papillomavirus types 6 and 11 are able to protect keratinocytes from apoptosis via Bak degradation.

Infection of epithelial surfaces with low-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11 causes troublesome clinical diseases, such as recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, that carry a significant cost burden to the healthcare system. Despite this, less has been studied at the molecular level for the low-risk HPV types when compared with their high-risk counterparts. Recent studies have shown the ability of the HPV E6 protein to degrade the pro-apoptotic family member Bak in high-risk and betapapillomavirus HPV types, which confers a cytoprotective advantage on E6-expressing cells.

Genetic dysregulation in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

Objectives/hypothesis: Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a devastating disease, caused by infection of the upper aerodigestive tract with human papillomavirus types 6 and 11. There is no cure for RRP, and surgical removal is the mainstay of treatment. The purpose of this project was to compare genes of cell cycle, apoptosis, and inflammatory cytokines in laryngeal papilloma versus normal tissue for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the disease to discover novel therapies.