Glioma Research Group

	Thomas C. Chen, MD, PhD Download Dr. Chen's CV in PDF Format. Go to Dr. Chen's page on the USC Medical School website

The research in Dr. Chen's laboratory is focused on translational research for malignant gliomas. They are currently working on combining signal transduction modulation (cAMP/protein kinase A pathway) of malignant gliomas using chemotheraphy, with genetic manipulation via gene therapy. Gene therapy efforts have been directed towards improving targeting of glioma cells and glioma endothelial cells using a targeted adenovirus. The eventual combination of chemotherapy and gene therapy may prove to be a viable clinical treatment option for patients with malignant gliomas.

RESEARCHERS
Primary Investigator: Thomas C. Chen, MD, PhD
Vinay Gupta, MD: Curriculum Vitae
Mark N. Jabbour, MD: Curriculum Vitae
Peter Pyrko, MD/PhD Student: Curriculum Vitae
Weijun Wang, MD: Curriculum Vitae

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Chen TC (ed):   Options for the Treatment of Glioblastoma.   Neurosurg Focus 20(4), 2006.

Gupta V, Su YS, Wang W, Kardosh A, Liebes LF, Hofman FM, Schonthal AH, Chen TC.  Enhancement of glioblastoma cell killing by combination treatment with temozolomide: 
tamoxifen or hypericin.  Neurosurg Focus 20 (4): E 20, 2006.

Wang W, Tai CK, Kershaw A, Solly SK, Klatzmann D, Kasahara N, Chen TC.   Use of replication competent retroviral vectors in an immunocompetent intracranial glioma model.  Neurosurg Focus 20 (4):  E25, 2006.

Charalambous C, Chen TC, Hofman FM.  Characteristics of tumor-associated endothelial cells derived from glioblastoma multiforme.   Neurosurg Focus 20(4):  E22, 2006.

Gupta V, Wang W, Sosnowski BA, Hofman FM, Chen TC.   Fibroblast growth factor-2 retargeted adenoviral vector for selective transduction of primary glioblastoma multiforme endothelial cells.   Neurosurg Focus 20(4):  E26, 2006.

Milan J, Charalambous C, Elhag R, Chen TC, Li W, Guan S, Hofman FM, Zidovetzki R.  Multiple signaling pathways are involved in endothelin-1-induced brain endothelial cell migration.  Am J Physiol Cel Physol 291 (1): C155-64, 2006.

Pyrko P, Soriano N, Kardosh A, Liu YT, Uddin J, Petasis NA, Hofman FM, Chen CS, Chen  TC, Schonthal AH.  Downregulation of survivin expression and concomitant induction of apoptosis by celecoxib and its non-cyclooxygenase-2-inhibitory analog, dimethyl-celecoxib (DMC), in tumor cells in vitro and in vivo.   Mol Cancer 5(1):19, 2006.

Chen TC, Abrey LN.   Introduction to Primary Central Nervous System Lymphomas. Neurosurg Focus 21(5):  Intro, 2006.

Elder JB, Chen TC   Surgical Considerations in CNS Lymphomas.  Neurosurg Focus 21(5):   E13, 2006.

Wang W, Kardosh A, Su YS, Schonthal AH, Chen TC   Efficacy of Celecoxib in the  Treatment of Intracranial CNS Lymphomas:  An In-vivo Model.  Neurosurg Focus 21(5):E14, 2006.

Gupta V, Su YS, Samuelson CG, Liebes LF, Chamberlain MC, Hofman FM, Schonthal AH, Chen TC.   CPT-11:  a potential new chemotherapy for atypical or malignant meningiomas. 
J  Neurosurg 106:455-462,2007.

Charalambous C, Virrey J, Kardosh A, Jabbour MN, Qazi-Abdullah L,Pen L,  Zidovetzki R   Schonthal AH, Chen TC, Hofman FM.    Glioma-associated endothelial cells show evidence of replicative senescence.   Exp Cell Res 313(6):1192-202, Epub 2007, 2007.

Pyrko P, Kardosh A, Wang W, Xiong W, Schonthal AH, Chen TC.   HIV-1 protease inhibitors nelfinavir and atazanavir induce malignant glioma death by triggering endoplasmic reticulum stress.    Cancer Res 67(22): 10920-10928, 2007.

Pyrko P, Schonthal AH, Hofman FM, Chen TC, Lee AS.  The unfolded protein response regulator GRP78/BiP as a novel target for increasing chemosensitivity in malignant gliomas.   Cancer Res 67(20):9809-16,2007.

Gupta V, Samuelson CG, Su S, Chen TC.  Nelfinavir potentiation of imatinib cytotoxicity in meningioma cells via   survivin inhibition.   Neurosurg Focus 23(4):E9, 2007.

Elder JB, Atkinson R, Zee CS, Chen TC.  Primary intraosseous meningioma.   Neurosurg Focus 23(4):E13, 2007.

T.C. Chen, P. Wadsten, S. Su, N. Rawlinson, F.M. Hofman, C. Hill, A.H. Schönthal. 2002. The type IV phosphodiesterase inhibitor rolipram induces expression of the cell cycle inhibitors p21Cip1 and p27Kip1, resulting in growth inhibition, increased differentiation, and subsequent apoptosis of malignant A-172 glioma cells. Cancer Biol. Therapy 1, 268-276.

W. Wang, T. Chienkuo, N. Kasahara, and T.C. Chen. 2003. Highly efficient and tumor-restricted gene transfer to malignant gliomas by replication-competent retroviral vectors. Human Gene Therapy 14, 117-127.

C. Tai, W. Wang, T.C. Chen, N. Kasahara. 2005. Single-Shot, Multicycle Suicide Gene Therapy by Replication-Competent Retrovirus Vectors Achieves Long-Term Survival Benefit in Experimental Glioma. Molecular Therapy 12.