Ira Pastan

[1][2] These studies serve as a paradigm for the mechanism of action of cyclic AMP and steroid hormones on gene expression in animal cells.

Gene splicing techniques are used to make chimeric proteins in which the Fv of an antibody, preferentially binding to a cancer cell, is attached to a potent bacterial toxin.

Additionally, with his colleague Jesse Roth, he was the first to clearly demonstrate the presence of specific protein receptors on the surface of animal cells.

[7][8] In collaboration with Mark Willingham, he developed and used video intensified microscopy to visualize fluorescently labeled insulin and EGF forming clusters on the surface of living cells prior to entry through the endocytic pathway.

[14] Altogether these studies provided much of the framework that ultimately led to the use of antibodies targeted to the EGF receptor as a cancer therapy.

[16][17] Moxe also produced complete remissions in children with drug resistant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and is being developed for the treatment of that disease.

In a recently completed clinical trial, SS1P was combined with the immunosuppressive drugs cyclophosphamide and pentostatin and produced remarkable major and sustained tumor regressions lasting up to 2 years in patients with advanced chemotherapy resistant mesothelioma.