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Paul Polakis Director, Staff Scientist: Cancer Targets |
"I worked at Genentech as a postdoc from 1987-1989 and then returned as Senior Scientist in 1999. Since returning in 1999, I have headed the Tumor Antigen Project in an effort to identify tumor cell markers that will serve as targets for therapeutic antibodies."
Current Projects "My current projects include the identification of antigens that are expressed on the surface of human cancer cells. The overall goal of this project is to raise antibodies to these antigens that will ultimately serve as therapeutics in the treatment of cancer. As an extension of this project, my lab has been analyzing gene expression patterns that result from the treatment of human tumors and cell lines with standard care chemotherapeutic agents. We also work on the Wnt signaling pathway, in which defects are common in human colorectal cancer."
Collaborations "The Tumor Antigen Project involves dozens of individuals working in several departments, including Molecular Oncology, Pathology, Immunology and Molecular Biology. A project of this scope is impossible without heavy intramural collaboration."
Inspiration/Vision "Genentech is truly fully integrated and can therefore turn an idea into real medicine without soliciting support from outside sources. In five years, I hope to see several therapeutic antibodies derived from the Tumor Antigen Project well into clinical development."