Sandra Gollnick

Research Overview:

Dr. Gollnick’s research focuses on the yin and yang of inflammation in the progression and treatment of cancer.  Chronic inflammation contributes to the development and progression of many cancers, including prostate cancer.  Dr. Gollnick’s laboratory explores how tumor cells co-opt the host immune system to promote chronic inflammation that leads to increased vascularization, suppression of anti-tumor immunity and increased tumor cell proliferation and migration.  The goal of this work is to develop novel therapeutic targets based on increased understanding of the interaction of tumor cells and immune cells.

Unlike chronic inflammation, acute inflammation promotes the development of anti-tumor immunity.  Many anti-cancer modalities, including radiation, chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT), result in acute inflammation.  PDT is an FDA approved anti-cancer modality used for the elimination of early disease and palliation of late stage malignancies.  Dr. Gollnick’s laboratory has shown that PDT stimulates anti-tumor immunity that is capable of combating distant disease.  Her current focus is on developing clinical protocols for the treatment of head and neck and lung cancers with a goal of providing enhanced tumor control, including control of metastases, with minimal effect of quality of life.