The research scientists and neurosurgeons in the Department of Neurosurgery at Roswell Park are interested in the biological basis of malignant brain tumor formation (molecular oncology), and the targeting of primary brain tumor cells through anticancer immunological and biological therapies. They conduct research that is funded by the National Institutes of Health and other sources to study and develop cancer vaccines to prevent and treat brain tumors known as malignant gliomas.

Research in the neurosurgical oncology laboratory at Roswell Park Cancer Institute involves the study of molecules found on the cells of malignant gliomas that represent novel targets for immunologically directed anticancer therapy. One long-range goal of this research program is to develop more effective and less toxic treatments for gliomas using the patient’s own immune system. Molecules such as the mutant epidermal growth factor receptor proteins and the anti-apoptotic protein "survivin" are present in malignant gliomas and are the subject of current research efforts to develop multivalent cancer vaccines for glioma patients.

Our studies indicate that treatment with dendritic cell vaccines developed against the cellular protein known as survivin can induce a potent cellular immune response capable of preventing or inhibiting the growth of experimental malignant gliomas. This is accompanied by a potent and specific cellular immune response against the survivin protein, which is expressed almost exclusively in tumor cells. The intent of these pre-clinical studies is to investigate the potential for the development of vaccines for clinical use against malignant gliomas.

In other studies at Roswell Park, scientists are investigating the effects of various hormonal influences on malignant gliomas. Men have a higher incidence of these tumors than women. In addition, pre-menopausal women with gliomas live longer than their male counterparts. This difference becomes less pronounced in women following menopause. This gender-related difference is also apparent in certain animal models of malignant glioma. Estrogen is a major contributor to this survival advantage and so we have focused on identifying the mechanism of estrogen’s actions. In addition, we are studying the potential of using certain estrogen metabolites as therapy for malignant gliomas.