Korbelik, Mladen
Professor, Dept of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
BSc (1970), MSc (1974), PhD (1979), University of Zagreb
Postdoctoral Fellowship (NCI, 1980-82)
Research Scholar Award (B.C. Health Research Foundation, 1988-92)
Research Interests
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is developing into a major new modality for cancer treatment. Destruction of malignant tumors by PDT is achieved through the phototoxic action of light activated drugs. The mechanisms underlining processes that lead to the eventual tumor destruction by PDT are complex and not yet completely understood. My team is engaged in pre-clinical studies focused on investigation on how PDT works and how its effects can be improved. Most of this work is done with mouse tumor models, using combinations of in vivo/in vitro techniques, flow cytometry and other methods. Of special interest to us is the PDT-elicited engagement of powerful tissue-destructive host defence mechanism involving both noncellular (complement) and cellular (inflammatory cells) arms of the efferent limb of innate immunity that turns against the targeted lesion and orchestrates the development of adaptive (acquired) immune response. We are pursuing strategies in which PDT used in conjunction with various immunotherapy treatments is exploited as a cancer vaccine.
Selected Publications
Korbelik M, Krosl G, Krosl J and Dougherty GJ. 1006. The role of hose lymphoid populations in the response of mouse EMT6 tumor to photodynamic therapy. Cancer Res 56:5647-5652.
Dougherty TJ, Gomer GJ, Henderson BW, Jori G, Kessel D, Korbelik M, Moan J and Peng Q. 1998. Review: Photodynamic therapy. J Natl Cancer Inst 90:889-905.
Korbelik M and Dougherty GJ. 1999. Photodynamic therapy mediated immune response against subcutaneous mouse tumors. Cancer Res 59:1941-1946.
Korbelik M and Sun J. 2001. Cancer treatment by photodynamic therapy combined with adoptive immunotherapy using genetically altered natural killer cell line. Int J Cancer 93:269-274.
Korbelik M and Sun J. 2003. Ischemia-reperfusion injury in photodynamic therapy-treated mouse tumors. Br J Cancer 88:760-766.