SEARCHING FOR CURES
OUR GRADS HAVE GREAT CAREERS… BUT FIRST THEY GET GREAT EDUCATIONS. in this hairpin binding model of VB2-DOX, doxorubicin is represented by spheres and vitamin B2 is indicated by interlocking sticks.
Tandem
FROM THE LAB OF JUNTAO LUO, PHD
continued from page 12
e blood vessel leading to the tumor has an opening that is comparatively wide. Luo’s truck is small enough to travel deep into the tumor, delivering the drug where it can be most effective. is allows more cancer cells to be killed than by Doxil or by plain doxorubicin without Luo’s polymer truck. Aer its work is done, the truck exits the body undetected through the urine. “e nanoparticle reaches the tumor site easier and releases the drug, with minimal effects on the heart,” Luo describes. “Our formation inhibits tumor growth much more efficiently.” is summer, Luo is working with gynecologic oncologist Rinki Agarwal, MD, to establish protocols for collecting samples of ovarian tumors from Central New York women. e samples would provide the next step toward testing this new treatment strategy. e scientists believe that testing this novel formulation directly on patientderived samples will bring them a lot closer to bringing it to clinical trials.●
Upstate students benefit from nationally recognized professors, excellent job placement and SUNY tuition. Open houses are held each fall and spring. DEGREE PROGRAMS Biomedical Sciences (MS, PhD) Cardiovascular Perfusion (MS) Medical Biotechnology (BS) Medical Imaging (BS, BPS) Medical Technology (BS, MS) Medicine (MD, MD/PhD, MD/MPH) Nursing (BS, MS, DNP, post-master’s certificate) Public Health (MPH) Physician Assistant (MS) Physical Therapy (DPT) Radiation Therapy (BS, BPS) Respiratory Therapy (BS)
l
l
Education Health Care Research
www.upstate.edu/students PHOTOS BY ROBERT MESCAVAGE
summer 2017 l upstate.edu/cancer
CANCER CARE
13