UCSF GI DIVISION FACULTY

Michael Korn, M.D.

Associate Professor of Medicine
Mt. Zion

Email:

mkorm@cc.ucsf.edu

Active Projects:

Major aim of our work is the rational design of targeted combination therapies for GI cancer. The projects exploring the systems biology of cancer and have a strongly translational angle. We utilize cutting edge technologies and collaborate with leading scientists to design novel cancer therapies based on an in-depth understanding of cancer signal transduction networks. There are currently two main research tracks:
  1. Analysis and prediction of pathway responses to targeted inhibition of the EGF-receptor pathway in esophageal and breast cancer. Computer models of signaling networks are being developed and the anti-tumor efficacy of inhibition of critical molecules within these networks is being explored.
  2. Regulation and function of the human coxsackie-adenovirus receptor CAR. We discovered novel mechanisms of regulation of CAR, which is mission-critical for the success of adenovirus-based cancer treatments. We are investigating the possibility of pharmacological receptor restoration on cancer cells in order to increase the therapeutic efficacy of these viral agents.

Techniques in Use:

  1. Cancer Cell culturing, recombinant DNA technology, PCR, FISH, RNA-expression analysis including Northern-blotting, RT-PCR, TaqMan-PCR, luciferase promoter reporter assays, Affymetrix expression arrays, Western-blotting including co-immunoprecipitation, FACS, immune-fluorescense, confocal microscopy, immunohistochemistry , reverse-phase protein arrays, Cellomics high content image analysis, siRNA and shRNA mediated gene knock-down, controlled virus infection, CPE- and plaque assays.

Recent Publications:

Korn WM, Macal M, Christian C, Lacher MD, McMillan A, Rauen KA, Warren RS, Ferrell L. Expression of the coxsackievirus- and adenovirus receptor in gastrointestinal cancer correlates with tumor differentiation. Cancer Gene Ther. 2006 Aug;13(8):792-76

Au T, Thorne S, Korn WM, Sze D, Kirn D, Reid TR. Minimal hepatic toxicity of Onyx-015: spatial restriction of coxsackie-adenoviral receptor in normal liver. Cancer Gene Ther. 2007 Feb;14(2):139-50.