Liu Laboratory

Novel Molecularly-Targeted Therapies

Advances in our understanding of the molecular genetics underpinning head and neck cancer (HNC) development and growth have resulted in the emergence of novel molecularly-targeted therapies, with the aim of improving efficacy and/or quality of life, while minimizing damage to surrounding normal tissues. Since molecularly-targeted agents exploit tumor-specific aberrations, they are thought to provide a theoretical advantage over conventional chemotherapeutic cytotoxics, in which a major drawback is the exacerbation of normal tissue toxicity.

Evidence is accumulating that a variety of targets involved in different cellular processes may provide novel opportunities for therapeutic targeting. The Liu lab currently focuses on several approaches to develop novel molecularly-targeted therapies for HNC, ranging from antisense oligonucleotides, RNAi (siRNA and shRNA), to small molecule inhibitors.

Therapeutically targetable molecular aberrations in NPC arising from EBV infection.

Representative Publications:

Gerster K, Shi W, Ng B, Yue S, Ito E, Waldron J, Gilbert R, Liu FF: Targeting polo-like kinase 1 enhances radiation efficacy for head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 77(1):253-260, 2010.
Kato H, Ito E, Shi W, Alajez NM, Yue S, Lee C, Chan N, Bhogal N, Coackley CL, Vines D, Green D, Waldron J, Gullane P, Bristow R, Liu FF: Efficacy of combining GMX1777 with radiation therapy for human head and neck carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res. 16(3):898-911, 2010.
Hui A, Yue S, Shi W, Alajez N, Ito E, Green SR, Frame S, O'Sullivan B, Liu FF: Therapeutic efficacy of Seliciclib in combination with ionizing radiation for human nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res. 15(11):3716-3724, 2009.
Chia M, Leung A, Krushel T, Alajez N, Lo KW, Busson P, Klamut H,Bastianutto C, Liu FF: Nuclear factor-Y and Epstein Barr virus in nasopharyngeal cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 14(4):984-994, 2008.
Yip KW, Mocanu JD, Au PYB, Sleep GT, Huang D, Busson P, Yeh WC, Gilbert R, O’Sullivan B, Gullane P, Bastianutto C, Liu FF: Combination Bcl-2 antisense and radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal cancer. Cl Cancer Res. 11:8131-8144, 2005.
Yip KW, Li A, Li J-H, Shi W, Chia MC, Al Rashid S, Mocanu J, Louie A, Sanchez O, Huang D, Busson P, Yeh WC, Gilbert R, O'Sullivan B, Gullane P, Liu FF: Potential utility of BIMS as a novel apoptotic therapeutic molecule. Mol Therapy. 10:533-544, 2004.
Chia MC, Shi W, Li JH, Sanchez O, Strathdee CA, Huang D, Busson P, Klamut HJ, Liu FF: A conditionally replicating adenovirus for nasopharyngeal carcinoma gene therapy. Mol Therapy. 9:804-817, 2004.
Li A, Ng E, Shi W, Lee A, Chia M, Liu TJ, Huang D, O'Sullivan B, Gullane P, Liu FF: Potential efficacy of p16 gene therapy for EBV-positive nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Int J Cancer. 110:452-458, 2004.