W. Michael Korn, MD
Research Interests
One focus of research in my group is the adenovirus receptor CAR in epithelial malignancies. We have found that the adenovirus receptor CAR frequently exhibits reduced expression in gastrointestinal cancers, including liver cancer. Our goal is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms regulating CAR expression in cancer cells, towards designing novel combination therapies consisting of recombinant adenoviruses and signal transduction inhibitors that increase CAR expression. A second project focuses on the rational development of novel combination therapies for cancer based on the analysis of relevant cellular signal transduction pathways. We have applied this approach to improve the cytotoxicity of oncolytic adenoviruses by combining these agents with small molecule signal transduction inhibitors.
Selected Publications
- Korn WM, Maca M, Christian C, Ding R-X, Rauen KA, Warren RS, Ferrell L., Expression of the Coxsackievirus and Adenovirus Receptor in gastrointestinal tumors correlates with tumor differentiation. Cancer Gene Therapy, 2006; 13:792-7
- Lacher M, Anders M, Oft M, Balmain A, Korn WM, TGFβ receptor inhibition enhances adenoviral infectivity of carcinoma cells via up-regulation of CAR consequent to mesenchymal-epithelial-transition. Cancer Research, Cancer Res. 2006;66:1648-57.
- Au T, Thorne S, Korn WM, Sze D, Kirn D, Reid TR. Minimal hepatic toxicity pf ONYX-015: spatial restriction of CAR receptor in normal liver. Cancer Gene Therapy, 2007;14:139-150.
- Assistant Professor
- Medicine/Gastroenterology & Hematology-Oncology
Research Theme
- Progenitor Cells, Growth and Development
Contact Information
- mkorn@
cc.ucsf.edu - Phone: (415) 502-2844
- Fax: (415) 502-4787
- 2340 Sutter St.
- Box 0128, N-326
- San Francisco, CA. 94143 — 0128
Other UCSF Affiliations
- Hellen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center