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David Gau, PhD

David Gau

Contact Information

microscope Cancer Biology
Pin UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
5051 Centre Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Summary

My current research focuses on the role of the tumor microenvironment in regulation of kidney cancer. In particular, I am interested in exploring the therapeutic benefit of targeting Profilin-1, an actin-binding protein, in endothelial cells in the tumor microenvironment as a potential treatment for kidney cancer. Kidney cancer is a pathology characterized by excessive vascularization of the tumor microenvironment. My previous work has demonstrated that Profilin-1 plays a key role in regulating the angiogenic potential of endothelial cells. Using small molecule inhibitors I developed during my PhD against Profilin-1 and dendritic cell vaccine against Profilin-1, I am investigating if Profilin-1 can serve as a therapeutic target for vascular normalization in kidney cancer and thus improve current line therapy response.