Darell D. Bigner, MD, PhD, Duke University

Dr. Bigner's research involves development and evaluation of antibody-based targeted therapy for brain tumors, specifically in clinical treatment for glioblastoma multiforme. Dr. Bigner generated monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against multiple cell surface molecular targets that have been shown in preliminary studies to be involved in the growth, invasive potential and/or drug resistance of malignant glioma cells. The targeting of multiple molecular defects should help address the therapeutic limitations posed by the extreme heterogeneity inherent in malignant gliomas. Dr. Bigner's hypothesis is that poor drug delivery and widespread migration of GBM cells will be overcome by using enhanced delivery of MAbs or their fragments in the form of unarmed MAbs, toxin-MAb conjugates, or radiolabeled MAb-conjugates. Elimination of tumor cells expressing the critical target molecules should result in significant survival increases in GBM patients.

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