Research Programs: Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer, Tumor Biology and Progression
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, Director of Department of Neurosurgery Gene Therapy Program and Gene and Stem Cell Core Facility

ohlfe001
612-262-2491 — office
612-624-1195 — lab
Preferred method of contact: e-mail

Dr. Ohlfest studied molecular biology Iowa State University and received his B.S. in 2001. He received his PhD at the University of Minnesota in 2004 working on gene therapy approaches to treating malignant gliomas. He joined the faculty of the department of neurosurgery in 2005 and leads their gene therapy program.

Research Interests

The Ohlfest lab is focused on understanding the mechanisms of brain tumorogenesis and immune evasion, and translating these basic discoveries into improved gene therapy and immunotherapy. There are currently four projects being aggressively pursued.

• Toll-like receptor agonists as vaccine adjuvants
• Characterizing the phenotype of glioma stem cells using in vitro and in vivo models
• Nonviral and lentiviral vector targeting to tumor cells, employing immuno-gene therapy
• Transgenic and somatic cell gene transfer-based glioma models

Selected Publications

Ohlfest JR, Lobitz PD, Perkinson SG, and Largaespada DA. Integration and long-term expression in xenografted human glioblastoma cells using a plasmid-based transposon system. Mol Ther. 2004;10:260-268.

Ohlfest JR, Frandsen JL, Fritz S, Lobitz PD, Perkinson SG, Clark KJ, Nelsestuen G, Key NS, McIvor RS, Hackett PB, Largaespada DA. Phenotypic correction and long-term expression of factor VIII in hemophilic mice by immunotolerization and nonviral gene transfer using the Sleeping Beauty transposon system. Blood 2005;105:2691-2698.

Ohlfest JR, Demorest ZL, Mootoka Y, Vengco I, Oh S, Chen E, Scappaticci FA, Saplis RJ, Ekker SE, Low WC, Freese AB, and Largaespada DA. Combinatorial antiangiogenic gene therapy by nonviral gene transfer using the sleeping beauty transposon causes tumor regression and improves survival in mice bearing intracranial human glioblastoma. Mol Ther. 2005 ;12:778-788.

Ohlfest JR, Freese AB, and Largaespada DA. Nonviral vectors for cancer gene therapy: prospects for integrating vectors and combination therapies. Curr Gene Ther. 2005;5:629-641.

Wu A, Xiao J, Chen W, Hall WA, Low WC, and Ohlfest JR. Expression of MHC I and NK ligands on human CD133(+) glioma cells: possible targets of immunotherapy. J Neurooncol. 2007;83;121-131.

Oh S, Pluhar EG, McNeil EA, Kroeger KM, Liu C, Castro MG, Lowenstein PR, Freese A, Ohlfest JR. Efficacy of nonviral gene transfer into the canine brain. J Neurosurg. 2007;107:136-144.

Wu A, Oh S, Ericson K, Demorest ZL, Vengco I, Gharagozlou S, Chen W,Low WC, and Ohlfest JR. Transposon-based interferon gamma gene transfer overcomes limitations of episomal plasmid for immunogene therapy of glioblastoma. Cancer Gene Ther. 2007;14:550-560.

Wu A, Oh S, Gharagozlou S, Vedi RN, Ericson K, Chen W, Low WC, and Ohlfest JR. In vivo vaccination with tumor cell lysate plus CpG oligodeoxynucleotides eradicates murine glioblastoma. J Immunother. 2007;30:789-797.

Wu A, Oh S, Ericson K, Chen L, Hall WA, Champoux PE, Low WC, and Ohlfest JR. Persistence of CD133+ cells in human and mouse glioma cell lines: detailed characterization of GL261 glioma cells with cancer stem cell-like properties. Stem Cells Dev. 2008;17:173-84.

Xiong Z, Gharagozlou S, Vengco I, Chen W and Ohlfest JR. 2008. Effective CpG immunotherapy of breast carcinoma prevents but fails to eradicate established brain metastasis. 2007 Clin Cancer Res., in press.