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Hatem Sabaawy
Assistant Professor
UMDNJ
Department of Radiation Oncology
The Cancer Institute of NJ
UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
195 Little Albany Street, Room 4562
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 235-8081
FAX -
sabaawhe@umdnj.edu
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Cell death and survival signaling
The research efforts in the Sabaawy laboratory are focused on targeting
normal and tumor stem cells during malignant transformation using the
zebrafish animal model. These studies aim to dissect stem cell
developmental pathways subverted in normal stem cell development, and how
cancer stem cells divert from these regulatory pathways. A powerful
attribute of the zebrafish is its capacity for performing large-scale
forward genetic screens on transparent, readily accessible embryos. Using
modifier screens in conjunction with transgenic approaches, the laboratory
is generating new conditional transgenic zebrafish models of several
different cancers, including the major subtypes of human myeloid and
lymphoid leukemias, lymphoma, and sarcoma. The laboratory has generated
zebrafish with the t(12;21) translocation that develop leukemias similar
to human pre-B ALL. The laboratory is conducting a modifier screen to
identify both enhancers and suppressors of pre-B-cell leukemia. Chemical
and genetic modifier screens using tumor-prone zebrafish lines may
ultimately reveal mutant genes or drugs that can suppress or modify
disease progression, and will be validated in human trials. Additionally,
the laboratory is collaborating with several CINJ investigators to utilize
zebrafish in human tumor initiating cell xenotransplants, in an effort to
predict the tumor response to therapy in a personalized medicine approach.
Through the combination of translational and drug discovery strategies, we
hope to uncover novel genes and targets for the development of small
molecule inhibitors that are more effective as cancer therapies.
A parallel research effort in the laboratory is to study human mesenchymal
stroma cell (MSC)-based therapy and transplantation in regenerative
medicine. Cell therapy using stem cells for regeneration of a failing
organ or injury repair is a promising approach. Dr. Sabaawy and his
colleagues are collaborating on international trials for utilizing MSCs
cell therapy for injury repair.
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