Research Program: Tumor Biology and Progession Professor, Division of Radiation Oncology
Section Head, Molecular Cancer Therapeutics
Lion Scholar

valle001@umn.edu
612-626-6664 — office
Preferred method of contact: e-mail

Dr. Vallera received his Ph.D. in Microbiology (Immunology) from the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. He conducted post-doctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. John H. Kersey, Dept. of Laboratory Medicine/Pathology at the University of Minnesota. He joined the Masonic Cancer Center in 1984 where he conducts research on the development of new recombinant biological anti-cancer agents.

Research Interests

Our laboratory specializes in the genetic design and expression of new anti-cancer agents designed to target over-expressed receptors on the surface of cancer cells. We have been combining genes encoding human antibody fragments (sFvs) or cytokines with genes encoding catalytic toxins or apoptotic proteins to bioengineer new drugs. Our molecular therapeutics program has had success in the development of new bispecific agents in which unique combinations of targeting ligands facilitate the anti-cancer activity of the newly formed biologic drug. New agents have been developed that have impressive activity against leukemia and lymphoma in animal models of systemic cancer. Recently, we have extended our development program and have found when certain combinations of cytokines are used as ligands, bispecific agents can be developed with enhanced activity against solid tumors of the pancreas, prostate, breast, and colon. Currently, we are trying to determine how these novel agents bring about enhanced anti-cancer activity and whether they are suitable for clinical study.

Our group has also been given the charge of developing a radiolabeled antibody program for the Masonic Cancer Center. Since few alternatives are available for patients with drug refractory leukemia, we developed a novel radioimmunoconjugate, yttrium-90-labeled anti-CD45 monoclonal antibody and subsequently obtained FDA IND approval for a phase 1 study. The trial was placed on hold because patients showed an abnormal biodistribution of injected drug. We investigated and devised a solution to this problem and have now resumed the phase 1 study. Additionally, we have developed a second anti-leukemia strategy based on the use of an anti-CD19 radioimmunoconjugate and have obtained FDA IND approval for this new study as well.

The strength of our laboratory is our ability to develop new anti-cancer agents and our ability to translate them into phase studies.

Selected Publications

Stish BJ, Chen H, Shu Y, Panoskaltsis-Mortari A, Vallera DA. Increasing anticarcinoma activity of an anti-erbB2 recombinant immunotoxin by the addition of an anti-EpCAM sFv. Clin Cancer Res. 2007 May 15;13(10):3058-67.

Rustamzadeh E, Hall WA, Todhunter DA, Vallera VD, Low WC, Liu H, Panoskaltsis-Mortari A, Vallera DA. Intracranial therapy of glioblastoma with the fusion protein DTAT in immunodeficient mice. Int J Cancer. 2007 Jan 15;120(2):411-9.

Rustamzadeh E, Hall WA, Todhunter DA, Low WC, Liu H, Panoskaltsis-Mortari A, Vallera DA. Intracranial therapy of glioblastoma with the fusion protein DTIL13 in immunodeficient mice. Int J Cancer. 2006 May 15;118(10):2594-601

Vallera DA, Brechbiel MW, Burns LJ, Panoskaltsis-Mortari A, Dusenbery KE, Clohisy DR, Vitetta ES. Radioimmunotherapy of CD22-expressing Daudi tumors in nude mice with a 90Y-labeled anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody. Clin Cancer Res. 2005 Nov 1;11(21):7920-8.

Vallera DA, Todhunter DA, Kuroki DW, Shu Y, Sicheneder A, Chen H. A bispecific recombinant immunotoxin, DT2219, targeting human CD19 and CD22 receptors in a mouse xenograft model of B-cell leukemia/lymphoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2005 May 15;11(10):3879-88.

Vallera DA, Todhunter D, Kuroki DW, Shu Y, Sicheneder A, Panoskaltsis-Mortari A, Vallera VD, Chen H. Molecular modification of a recombinant, bivalent anti-human CD3 immunotoxin (Bic3) results in reduced in vivo toxicity in mice. Leuk Res. 2005 Mar;29(3):331-41.