Glioma Research Group, University of Southern California (USC)

Glioma Research Group

Participating Labs,
Primary Investigators
Thomas Chen, MD, PhD

Florence Hofman, PhD
Axel Schönthal, PhD
Colin Hill, PhD
Amy Lee, PhD
Francis Markland, PhD
Caleb E. Finch, PhD
Nori Kasahara, MD, PhD

Getting Involved
Contact the Glioma Research Group

Keck > Glioma Research Group > Dr. Hofman's Laboratory

Cytokine and Growth Factor Regulation of CNS Endothelial Cells

Florence Hofman, PhD

Research in this laboratory is focused on the characterization of the tumor-associated endothelial cells present within primary brain tumors and metastatic cancer to the brain. Our studies examine the unique characteristics of the tumor vasculature, their resistance to conventional chemotherapy and their interactions with the tumor microenvironment at the cellular and molecular levels. The goal is to identify appropriate anti-angiogenic therapies which will specifically destroy tumor-associated endothelial cells, thereby starving the tumor and opening the blood-brain-barrier to effective chemotherapeutic agents.

RESEARCHERS
Primary Investigator: Florence M. Hofman , PhD
Christiana Charalambous: Curriculum Vitae
Jenilyn Virrey: Curriculum Vitae

RECENT PUBLICATIONS
C. Charalambous, F.M. Hofman, T.C. Chen. 2005. Functional and phenotypic differences between normal and glioblastoma multiforme- derived endothelial cells. J.Neurosurg. 102: 699-705.

C. Charalambous, A. Kardosh, L. Qazi, R. Zidovetzki, A.H. Schönthal, T.C. Chen, F.H. Hofman Senescence phenotype of tumor-associated endothelial cells. Manuscript submitted (7/11/05)