A Special seminar will be held as follows.
Date:Monday, April 1st, 2019 Time: 16:00-17:00 Venue: University of Tsukuba Hospital, Bldg. B, room251-1 [Map]
Speaker: Ann Gillenwater,M.D., Ph.D.(Professor, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX )
Subject: “Photoimmunotherapy: A new approach for management of recurrent locoregional Head & Neck cancer”
Summary:Locoregional recurrence is a major problem for Head & Neck cancer patients (HNSCC). We recently completed a Phase 2a study of a novel photoimmunotherapy (PIT) approach for HNSCC patients. RM1929, is a combination of the anti-EGFR agent Cetuximab with the phthalocyanine dye IRDye700DX. The Cetuximab portion of RM1929 targets the compound to tumor cells overexpressing EGFR. High intensity red light is used to illuminate the abnormal tissue activating the IRDye700DX, which lyses the surrounding cells. The current lecture will explain mechanisms of PIT with RM1929, and describe some of the initial clinical results found in patients treated with this novel approach.