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Tobey J. MacDonald, MD
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Children's National Medical Center
Faculty, Oncology
Principal Investigator, Children's Research Institute
Center for Cancer and Immunology Research (CCIR)
George Washington University
School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Associate Professor, Pediatrics
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Contact Information
Children's National Medical Center
Center for Cancer and Immunology Research (CCIR)
111 Michigan Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20010-2970
202-476-3898
tmacdona@cnmc.org
Education & Training
| Institution & Location |
Degree |
Year(s) |
Field of Study |
| Cornell University, Ithaca, NY |
BA |
1987 |
Biology/Microbiology |
| Cornell University, New York, NY |
MD |
1991 |
Medicine |
Research Interests
Tobey J. MacDonald, MD, current research utilizes microarray gene chip expression profiling of pediatric brain tumors to identify genes that upon further validation (protein and biologic function) are suitable novel therapeutic targets. Using this strategy, Dr. MacDonald has identified key genes that appear to promote the metastasis of medulloblastoma (integrin alpah v, PDGFR and RAS) and a group of molecules that appear to be important for invasion and angiogenesis of astrocytomas (integrin alpha 6, EGFR and IGFBP-2). This research continues to investigate the precise role and importance of PDGFR, EGFR, and the alpha integrin family as potentially novel therapeutic targets in the regulation of brain tumor invasion and angiogenesis. A new focus has emerged examining the genetic regulation of these processes and the intracellular signal transduction cascade generated by the activation of these molecules. This research is summarized in three related, yet independent, specific aims. The specific aims are as follows: 1) Determine the molecular regulation of brain tumor invasion and angiogenesis, specifically as it relates to PDGFR, EGFR and alpha integrins, by interrogating and defining the DNA, RNA and corresponding protein expression profiles of pediatric brain tumors (invasive vs. non-invasive and angiogenic vs. less angiogeneic) using high throughput genomic and proteomic analyses. 2) Determine the interacting functions and cell signaling pathway(s) of alpha integrins, EGFR and PDGFR by sequentially down regulating alpha integrin, EGFR and PDGFR expression in medulloblastoma and astrocytoma cells with specific siRNA and then testing the effect of this downregulation on the downstream cell signaling activation and malignant cell behavior in vitro and in vivo. 3) Determine the pre-clinical significance of inhibiting these functions in brain tumor cells in vitro and in vivo using pharmacologic agents designed to target these molecules. The overarching goal is to provide scientific rationale and preclinical model data for a prospective clinical pediatric trial evaluating the efficacy of inhibitors to alpha integrins, PDGFR, EGFR and their associated gene and protein targets critical for the invasion and angiogenesis of pediatric brain tumors.
Clinical Interests
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Publications
View a partial list of publications for Tobey J. MacDonald, MD through the National Library of Medicine's PubMed online database.
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