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Nancy L. Oleinick
Ph.D.
BRTT Project PI
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Dr. Oleinick’s research encompasses basic studies in radiation biology and photobiology and in recent years has focused on photodynamic therapy (PDT). She has been continuously funded by the NIH since 1973. In collaboration with other investigators at Case, she has studied the phthalocyanine Pc 4 in PDT and has assisted clinicians in the
Cancer
Center
to develop a Phase I trial for dermal malignancies that is accruing patients, and a new trial for PDT using topical delivery of Pc 4 that has recently opened. The latter trial is based on preclinical data on new means of promoting photosensitizer uptake into human skin; two provisional patents have been filed based on that technology. In addition to making fundamental observations on apoptosis in the response of cells and tumors to PDT, her laboratory has identified two primary targets of PDT, the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL and the mitochondrial phospholipid cardiolipin. The work on cardiolipin developed from the observation that Pc 4 can accept fluorescence resonance energy from the specific cardiolipin probe nonyl-acridine orange. Dr. Oleinick is collaborating with Drs. Clemens Burda and Malcolm Kenney to design improved probes using fluorescent nanoparticles that can target specific sites in or on tumor cells and signal events in their vicinity by energy transfer or other optical techniques. A license for the use of Pc 4 in the sterilization of blood components was issued to the New York Blood Center and Vitex, Inc., and commercial development of Pc 4-PDT for cancer and other indications is being launched. Two patents covering the initial discovery of Pc 4 and related phthalocyanines have issued.
