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Jason S Lewis, PhD
Assistant Professor of Radiology
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Education
PhD, Biochemistry, University of Kent at Canterbury, UK 1996MS, Chemistry, University of Essex, UK 1993
BS, Chemistry, University of Essex, UK 1992
BS, Chemistry, University of Essex, UK 1992
Research Involvement
Interested in the design, biological evaluation
and clinical application of radiopharmaceuticals containing metal
radionuclides for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This is
with an emphasis on developing agents for Positron Emission Tomography (PET).
The diagnosis of hypoxia is of direct clinical relevance to the successful treatment of cancer, myocardial disease and stroke. In particular, hypoxia in tumors can affect the outcome of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments. The Lewis Lab has examined the use copper radiopharmaceuticals for the detection of hypoxia. To data it has been demonstrated that Cu-ATSM has significant selectivity for hypoxic tissue in vitro and in vivo due to a redox trapping mechanism. As a consequence 64Cu-(ATSM)-PET is now under clinical evaluation with the use of PET for the delineation of hypoxia in a variety of human tumors at Washington University.
Following the work on Cu-ATSM the lab investigated the radiolabeling and in vivo characterization of a new class of copper-radiolabeled thiosemicarbazone complexes to image Topo-II expression in tumors with PET. To the best of our knowledge this work is the first report of the use of PET radiopharmaceuticals as potential agents for delineating Topo-II expression in tumors. We have successfully produced radiolabeled complexes and demonstrated that visualization of Topo-II-rich tumors can be accomplished with PET. We have demonstrated a proof-of-concept that these complexes are able to image the levels of cellular Topo-II and using this concept we are designing and developing improved imaging and therapeutic agents targeted towards Topo-II.
The Lewis Lab has also worked on the development of radiolabeled peptides targeting a myriad of over-expressed receptors on tumors, including somatostatin, bombesin and MSH for PET imaging and therapy. This experience has lead to the evolution of new analogs, with superior tumor uptake for imaging and radiotherapeutic application. The interest in biomolecules has lead to collaborations with scientists outside of Washington University for evaluating new peptides and antibodies, in particular for agents targeted at the process of angiogenesis.
Dr. Lewis is the Co-Director is the Washington University microPET imaging facility. Dr Lewis has employed the use of the microPET to investigate the physiological consequences of using therapeutic drugs for the treatment of tumors. By monitoring changes in tumor blood flow, tumor metabolism, tumor oxygenation and vascular permeability it is hoped that a single (or a combination of) surrogate marker(s) for visualization of anti-tumor treatments will be identified.
The diagnosis of hypoxia is of direct clinical relevance to the successful treatment of cancer, myocardial disease and stroke. In particular, hypoxia in tumors can affect the outcome of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments. The Lewis Lab has examined the use copper radiopharmaceuticals for the detection of hypoxia. To data it has been demonstrated that Cu-ATSM has significant selectivity for hypoxic tissue in vitro and in vivo due to a redox trapping mechanism. As a consequence 64Cu-(ATSM)-PET is now under clinical evaluation with the use of PET for the delineation of hypoxia in a variety of human tumors at Washington University.
Following the work on Cu-ATSM the lab investigated the radiolabeling and in vivo characterization of a new class of copper-radiolabeled thiosemicarbazone complexes to image Topo-II expression in tumors with PET. To the best of our knowledge this work is the first report of the use of PET radiopharmaceuticals as potential agents for delineating Topo-II expression in tumors. We have successfully produced radiolabeled complexes and demonstrated that visualization of Topo-II-rich tumors can be accomplished with PET. We have demonstrated a proof-of-concept that these complexes are able to image the levels of cellular Topo-II and using this concept we are designing and developing improved imaging and therapeutic agents targeted towards Topo-II.
The Lewis Lab has also worked on the development of radiolabeled peptides targeting a myriad of over-expressed receptors on tumors, including somatostatin, bombesin and MSH for PET imaging and therapy. This experience has lead to the evolution of new analogs, with superior tumor uptake for imaging and radiotherapeutic application. The interest in biomolecules has lead to collaborations with scientists outside of Washington University for evaluating new peptides and antibodies, in particular for agents targeted at the process of angiogenesis.
Dr. Lewis is the Co-Director is the Washington University microPET imaging facility. Dr Lewis has employed the use of the microPET to investigate the physiological consequences of using therapeutic drugs for the treatment of tumors. By monitoring changes in tumor blood flow, tumor metabolism, tumor oxygenation and vascular permeability it is hoped that a single (or a combination of) surrogate marker(s) for visualization of anti-tumor treatments will be identified.
