Expertise

My research examines multi-drug resistance (MDR) and reversal of MDR in cancer cells. MDR, which is characterized by tumor cells that are resistant to a number of structurally and functionally diverse anticancer agents, is one of the major obstacles to anticancer chemotherapy. P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and the Multidrug resistance Related Protein 1 (MRP1) are two well-known transmembrane transporter proteins that cause MDR. Pgp and MRP1 mediate drug efflux from tumor cells and therefore cause decreased intracellular drug accumulation. The two transporters also alter drug subcellular distribution causing drug sequestration and consequently, keep anticancer drugs from target sites. To date, most of our knowledge on the drug transporter system has come from in vitro studies. Currently, we are conducting in vivo studies on the role of Pgp and MRP1 in MDR and on the mechanisms of reversing MDR by inhibitors of Pgp and MRP1 by imaging drug uptake, efflux and modulation of MDR in live animals. The direct in vivo information obtained on how MDR and non-MDR tumor cells in real time process anticancer drugs and respond to inhibitors of Pgp and MRP1 should help to better understand MDR in clinical chemotherapy and lead to improved therapy for cancer patients whose tumors are resistant to anticancer agents.

Communities
Oncology, Hematology
Degrees
MD, University of Lausanne, 1995
BS, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Medicine, 1984