Damon Runyon Researchers

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Yvonne M. Mowery, MD, PhD

Head and neck cancers usually begin in the squamous cells that line the mucosal surfaces inside the mouth, nose and throat. Even with aggressive treatment including surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, these tumors often recur with poor prognosis. Dr. Mowery will use patient samples and mouse models to investigate why these cancers are resistant to radiation treatment and to test new therapeutic approaches to improve outcomes for patients. She will also conduct a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of using a combination of a radiation sensitizer (a drug that makes cancer cells more vulnerable to radiation therapy), radiation therapy and immunotherapy to treat patients with recurrent head and neck cancer.

Project title: "Evaluating and targeting pathways of treatment resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma"
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Award Program: Clinical Investigator
Sponsor(s) / Mentor(s): Heath D. Skinner, MD, PhD, and Robert L. Ferris, MD, PhD
Cancer Type: Head and Neck Cancer
Research Area: Animal Models/Mouse Models