Did you start off as a cancer researcher? If not, what led you to work on cancer-related research topics?
I have been fascinated, from a young age, by the idea of translating genome editing technologies to the development of therapeutics for a variety of diseases, both common and rare. My laboratory has been working on the development of programmable gene modification and gene regulation systems for applications other than cancer. However, it recently became apparent that these tools could also be applied to the creation of targeted cancer therapeutics.
What are the main cancer-related projects you are currently working on?
We are currently involved in a collaborative project to develop novel therapies for neurofibromatosis type 1, in conjunction with a research team spanning UMASS and Massachusetts General Hospital. We hope to understand how to develop targeted therapies that are effective at suppressing tumor formation in neurofibromatosis type 1, through work in various model systems.
What do you see as the most promising technology or techniques in cancer research right now? And where do you see the future of cancer research going?
Both immunotherapies and cell-based therapies are exciting strategies to make targeted therapeutics for various types of cancer. There will continue to be advances in the creation of targeted therapeutics (such as immunotherapies, and small-molecule and cell-based therapies) that selectively eliminate cancer cells. These therapies will begin to be tailored to each individual cancer patient to maximize their effectiveness.
Why do you feel it is important for patients with cancer to take part in medical research?
Without patient participation in clinical trials, we cannot advance new therapies to the clinic. For example, the current success of treatments for many forms of leukemia are founded on the collaboration of patients and doctors in the context of prior clinical trials.
What is your message to potential donors?
In many instances, limited funding resources are delaying our ability to advance basic science research toward the clinic. If you have a disease that you are passionate about, and the funds to contribute to the cause, please engage the scientific community to help bold ideas be advanced to potential cures.
About Scot Wolfe
Scot A. Wolfe, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology at the UMass Chan Medical School. He earned a PhD from Harvard University and received postdoctoral training at Massachusetts Institute of Technology where his work was supported in part by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
