Research Interests
Our goal in both basic research and in clinical research is to improve the length and quality of life for children with nervous system tumors. This involves studies of 1) neural crest and cerebellar development; 2) exploitation of neuropeptide receptors as diagnostic and therapeutic targets; and 3) clinical trials of new imaging agents and new therapeutic modalities for nervous system tumors, especially neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma.

Current projects
Exploitation of Neuropeptide Receptor in Diagnosis and Therapy of Medulloblastoma and ofNeural Crest and Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Lab Members
We currently have a peptide chemist, a radiochemist, a radiation biologist, a pediatric fellow, two undergraduate students, and a research assistant on our team. We frequently have fellows or young faculty from other departments working in our laboratory as well.

Affiliations:

• Department of Pediatrics
• Division of Hematology/Oncology
• Neurosciences Graduate Program
• Neuro-oncology Research Group
• Tumor Imaging Group
• Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center

Model Systems
We utilize cell culture and genetically engineered mouse models to study medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, and neuroendocrine tumors.

• Dual-Target Dosimetry for Dual-Target Therapy with 131I-MIBG and 90Y-DOTA-tyr3-Octreotide in Children and Young Adults.
• A Pediatric Study of Neuroendocrine Tumors

Recent Publications

1. The Role of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) in Megakaryocyte Proliferation.
   Nam C, Case AJ, Hostager BS, O'Dorisio MS.
   J Mol Neurosci. 2009 Feb;37(2):160-7. Epub 2008 Jul 29.
2. Combining anatomic and molecularly targeted imaging in the diagnosis and surveillance of embryonal tumors of the nervous and endocrine systems in children.
   O'Dorisio MS, Khanna G, Bushnell D.
   Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2008 Dec;27(4):665-77. Review.
3. Utility of radiolabeled somatostatin receptor analogues for staging/restaging and treatment of somatostatin receptor-positive pediatric tumors.
   Khanna G, Bushnell D, O'Dorisio MS.
   Oncologist. 2008 Apr;13(4):382-9. Review.
4. ECM1 expression in thyroid tumors--a comparison of real-time RT-PCR and IHC.
   Lal G, Padmanabha L, Nicholson R, Smith BJ, Zhang L, Howe JR, Robinson RA, O'Dorisio MS.
   J Surg Res. 2008 Sep;149(1):62-8. Epub 2007 Nov 26.
5. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in surveillance of pediatric brain malignancies.
   Khanna G, O'Dorisio MS, Menda Y, Glasier C, Deyoung B, Smith BJ, Graham M, Juweid M.
   Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2008 Mar;50(3):561-6.
6. RIZ1 is epigenetically inactivated by promoter hypermethylation in thyroid carcinoma.
   Lal G, Padmanabha L, Smith BJ, Nicholson RM, Howe JR, O'Dorisio MS, Domann FE Jr.
   Cancer. 2006 Dec 15;107(12):2752-9.
7. Human plasmacytoid dendritic cell function: inhibition of IFN-alpha secretion and modulation of immune phenotype by vasoactive intestinal peptide.
   Fabricius D, O'Dorisio MS, Blackwell S, Jahrsdörfer B.
   J Immunol. 2006 Nov 1;177(9):5920-7.
8. Potential increased tumor-dose delivery with combined 131I-MIBG and 90Y-DOTATOC treatment in neuroendocrine tumors: a theoretic model.
   Madsen MT, Bushnell DL, Juweid ME, Menda Y, O'Dorisio