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FSU Scientist Using Computer Power To Battle Cancer

Bill Lax/FSU Photo Lab

Kevin C. Chen, an assistant professor of chemical and biomedical engineering at Florida State University, is using computational analysis to study the cancer fighting power of a new class of drugs.

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SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF REPORT

Published: July 9, 2008

TALLAHASSEE -- Advanced computer power is helping a Florida State University researcher assess the cancer-fighting abilities of a new class of drugs.

Kevin C. Chen, an assistant professor of chemical and biomedical engineering at the Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering, is using computational analysis to determine how substances known as recombinant immunotoxins can best be modified in order to attack and kill malignant tumors while doing minimal harm to a patient's healthy cells.

"Cancer is a disease of tremendous complexity, so the analysis and interpretation of data demands sophisticated, specialized computational methods," Chen said of his research.

Recombinant immunotoxins, Chen explained, are being tested in clinical trials for certain types of cancer therapy. They consist of tiny fragments of antibody proteins fused at the genetic level to toxins produced by certain types of bacteria, fungi or plants.

Once injected into a person with cancer, the immunotoxins take advantage of the fact that cancer cells are covered with other protein molecules called antigens. The protein part of the immunotoxins bind to the antigens and the toxin then kills the malignant cells.

Because they lack the cancer-associated antigens, Chen said, "Normal, healthy cells, meanwhile, are not recognized and thus are spared."

Chen's computational analysis seeks to ensure the immunotoxins do their job with maximum efficiency. For example, it is important that the dose of immunotoxins administered isn't too large or too small relative to the number of cancer antigens present.

Working with FSU postdoctoral researchers Junho Kim and Xinmei Li and molecular biologist Byungkook Lee of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md., Chen recently published a paper summarizing the team's work. "Modeling Recombinant Immunotoxin Efficacies in Solid Tumors" appeared in the March 2008 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Annals of Biomedical Engineering.

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