Subhash Chauhan Lab

       

Subhash Chauhan, PhDResearch Interest: Developing Molecular Markers for Early Cancer Diagnosis and Targeted Therapy for Cancer Treatment.

Biomarkers for Early Cancer Diagnosis: Primary research interest of Dr. Chauhan’s lab is to identify and characterize the diagnostic and therapeutic targets for cancer. Main focus of our research group is to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of cell-cell adhesion and anti-adhesion molecules that cause cancers. This research is aimed for the identification and characterization of biomarkers that aberrantly express or localize in cancer cells in order to develop newer tools for early disease diagnosis. We are utilizing genomics and proteomics approach for identification of novel early diagnostic markers. Recently we have identified a novel trans-membrane mucin MUC13 which is highly over-expressed ovarian and pancreatic and colon cancer cells. This may be potential biomarker for early cancer diagnosis as well as a good target for antibody guided targeted cancer therapy.

Optimization of Radioimmunotherapy for Cancer Treatment: The other research interest of Dr. Chauhan’s lab is to develop novel radioimmunotherapy (RIT) and radioimmunodiagnostic (RID) modalities for the treatment and diagnosis of gynecological malignancies. Monoclonal antibodies/engineered single-chain Fvs offer a powerful approach to cancer therapy in view of their exquisite specificity and targeting capability via the delivery of cytocidal agents (i.e. radionuclides, enzymes, genes, drugs and cytotoxins). This research project is aimed to develop novel genetically engineered antibody molecules with reduced immunogenicity, desirable size and altered pharmacokinetics for the RID/RIT applications.

Development of a Novel Nanotechnology Based Therapy: Nonspecific distribution and suboptimal delivery of the anti-cancer drug(s) to the tumor cells are the major hindrances in the successful use of traditional chemotherapy. The cancer tissues overexpress TAG-72, MUC1, MUC13 and MUC16 antigens, and a combination of the antibodies against these three antigens will potentially recognize 100% of the cancer cells. These antibodies can be used to deliver the radionuclides and nanoparticles-encapsulated drugs specifically to the cancer cells. In addition, antibodies that have been labeled with alpha and beta emitting radionuclides (211At, 177Lu and 131I) of different linear energy transfer (LET) and have been designed against these tumor antigens will effectively target various sizes of metastatic lesions. Additionally, we are also developing a novel nanotechnology based gene therapy for cancer.