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Messersmith Research Laboratory

Main Research Focus:
Dr. Messersmith’s lab is mainly focused on using a personalized approach in developing new anticancer drugs for GI cancers. In particular, the lab uses a novel colorectal and pancreatic explant model whereby tumor tissue is obtained from the operating room and then placed directly into mice. Tumors are treated with new drugs and predictive biomarkers of sensitivity are discovered.  These predictive markers are used in the clinic to pre-select patients that would most likely derive benefit from these new drugs. Additionally, these tumors are evaluated in orthotopic and metastatic models. Current anticancer drugs in the lab target Notch (g-secretase), Src, and hedgehog pathways.

Selected Publications:
Arcaroli J, Touban B, Tan AC, Garcia M, Powell RW, Eckhardt SG, Elvin P, Messersmith WM. Gene Array and FISH Biomarkers of Activity of Saracatinib (AZD0530), a Src Inhibitor, in a Preclinical Model of Colorectal Cancer. Accepted- Clinical Cancer Research.

Dasari A, Messersmith WA. New Strategies in Colorectal Cancer: Biomarkers of Response to Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Monoclonal Antibodies and Potential Therapeutic Targets in PI3K and MAPK Pathways.
Clin Cancer Res. 2010 Jun 16.

Franklin WA, Haney J, Sugita M, Bemis L, Jimeno A, Messersmith WA. KRAS mutation: comparison of testing methods and tissue sampling techniques in colon cancer.
J Mol Diagn. 2010 Jan;12(1):43-50. Epub 2009 Dec 10.

Messersmith WA, Rajeshkumar NV, Tan AC, Wang XF, Diesl V, Choe SE, Follettie M, Coughlin C, Boschelli F, Garcia-Garcia E, Lopez-Rios F, Jimeno A, Hidalgo M. Efficacy and pharmacodynamic effects of bosutinib (SKI-606), a Src/Abl inhibitor, in freshly generated human pancreas cancer xenografts.  Mol Cancer Ther. 2009 Jun;8(6):1484-93. Epub 2009 Jun 9.

Rajeshkumar NV, Tan AC, De Oliveira E, Womack C, Wombwell H, Morgan S, Warren MV, Walker J, Green TP, Jimeno A, Messersmith WA, Hidalgo M. Antitumor effects and biomarkers of activity of AZD0530, a Src inhibitor, in pancreatic cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2009 Jun 15;15(12):4138-46. Epub 2009 Jun 9.

Jimeno A, Messersmith WA, Hirsch FR, Franklin WA, Eckhardt SG. KRAS mutations and susceptibility to cetuximab and panitumumab in colorectal cancer.  Cancer J. 2009 Mar-Apr;15(2):110-3. Review.

Jimeno A, Messersmith WA, Hirsch FR, Franklin WA, Eckhardt SG. KRAS mutations and sensitivity to epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors in colorectal cancer: practical application of patient selection.  J Clin Oncol. 2009 Mar 1;27(7):1130-6. Epub 2009 Jan 5. Review.

Messersmith WA, Ahnen DJ. Targeting EGFR in colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med. 2008 Oct 23;359(17):1834-6.