Projects
Oncocidia_the novel anticancer therapy: phase 0 clinical study. KU Leuven
Cancer residue, common after current therapies, remains a culprit for recurrence and patient death. To solve this problem, the group of Prof. Y. Ni at KU Leuven has developed a new dual targeting anticancer strategy, called Oncocidia. It is based on the subsequent injection of two compounds – a vascular disruptive agent and a radiolabeled necrosis-avid compound- which have a highly synergistic effect. The therapy has been extensively tested ...
Development of a novel class of Exportin 1 (XPO1/CRM1) inhibitors for anti-cancer therapy KU Leuven
Nuclear-cytoplasmic transport is essential for maintaining proper cellular homeostasis since it regulates the movement of large molecules (RNA and proteins) between the cytoplasm and the nucleus in a eukaryotic cells. Exportin 1 (XPO1 or CRM1) is the best characterised nuclear exporter and is responsible for the transport of a large number of different cargo proteins (e.g. p21, BCRA1, BCR-ABL and p53) to the cytoplasm. The correct ...
Multivalent dual-responsive polymeric nanoparticles for targeted anti-cancer therapy Ghent University
In this project we aim to develop a formulation that selectively delivers anti-cancer drugs to cancer cells while minimizing unwanted toxicity to healthy tissue. For this purpose we will encapsulate hydrophobic anti-cancer agents in polymeric nanoparticles thate are engineered with (1) targeting ligands to selectively bind to cancer cells and (2) stimuli-responsive properties to release their drug payload only after cellular uptake.
Identification of novel chemokine receptor inhibitors for anti-cancer therapy KU Leuven
REVERSE TRANSLATIONAL DESIGNING OF THE NEXT-GENERATION ANTICANCER DC VACCINATIONS: Mechanisms and beyond KU Leuven
Type I interferon (IFN) response, is a potent pro-immunogenic as well as anti-pathogenic process in vertebrates. Both “non-self” and particular “self” nucleic acid-moieties can elicit Type I IFNs. Hence, Type I IFNs have important roles to play in various pathogenic as well as sterile inflammatory pathologies like cancer. A clinically relevant tumor exhibits a relative dysfunction in mounting Type I IFN response. Owing to this, cancer ...
Oxidative stress as a selective anticancer agent: investigation of a targeted combination strategy for mutant p53 non-small cell lung cancer and other solid tumors. University of Antwerp
Proteomics-derived epitopes for dramatically improved anticancer and antibacterial vaccine development Ghent University
This project seeks to dramatically improve the development of anticancer and antibacterial vaccines by removing the two most important thresholds to development: difficulties in identifying suitable epitopes, and the lack of effective vaccine formulations. We will moreover demonstrate our approach on two highly relevant cases: tuberculosis and lung cancer.
Promising theranostic hybrid systems based on Inorganic Nanoparticles coated with Poly(2-oxazoline)s-conjugates for combination cancer therapy Ghent University
Combination therapies can address the intractability of cancer and provide a better and promising approach for tumor therapy compared to single-mode therapy. The focus of the current project is the development of the chemical approaches to prepare the Doxorubicin-Poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline)s conjugates with a cathepsin cleavable valine-alanine dipeptide linker and proper end-group modification to attaching onto Au NPs and (iron oxide ...