Laboratory of Randy Burd, Ph.D. - Improving Tumor Radiation Response

Our goal is to specifically target melanocytic tumors and enhance therapy response. This is a three tiered approach that incorporates Research, Education and Software Application Development. Our approach utilizes Radiation Biology and Nutrigenomics (specifically Transcriptomics) to discover and develop drugs based on bioactive food components, such as quercetin, 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxychromen-4-one (C₁₅H₁₀O₇).

More than half of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy during their course of treatment for cancer. Despite its wide use, there is still a need to improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy, while minimizing its effects on normal tissue.

The most common approach to increase the effectiveness of radiation is to use a radiosensitizer, a drug that will increase radiation toxicity. However, many of these combination treatment regimens can have negative effects on normal tissue.

In order to spare normal tissue we focus our research efforts on compounds that selectively target tumor tissue. Tyrosinase for example is an oxidative enzyme that is selectively expressed in melanocytes and can convert inert drugs such as quercetin into potent active compounds. Tyrosinase is over expressed in melanoma and thus provides an means to activate prodrugs with high selectivity in melanocytic tumors.