We have studied the Fas/FasL apoptotic pathway and demonstrated the importance of an intact Fas pathway and microenvironment in the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapy. We have used the aerosol route as a more efficient and less toxic way to deliver chemotherapy agents directly to the lungs, and demonstrated therapeutic efficacy. However the presence of residual metastases has most recently led us to study Autophagy, as a possible mechanism implicated in OS resistance to chemotherapy.

My laboratory also studies alternative ways to modulate the immune system to enhance therapeutic efficacy by using aerosol delivery of cytokines such as IL-2 in combination with T and/or natural killer cell therapy.