Wayne State University, Detroit
Dr. Asfar Azmi is Associate Professor & Director of Pancreas Cancer Research & Co-Leader of Tumor Biology and Microenvironment Research Program at Karmanos Cancer Institute Wayne State University School of Medicine. In collaboration with Ramzi Mohammad (below), he has worked extensively in the area of small-molecule-inhibitor drug development. This has led to rapid clinical translation of Selinexor, a new drug in Phase Ib/II trials at Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit.
Azmi has published more than 90 peer-reviewed articles and numerous editorials in journals.
Asfar Azmi, Ph.D. receives 2021 Kales Award for breakthrough in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Click here to read the December 2020 research update.
RESEARCH FUNDED BY SKY FOUNDATION, INC.
PROJECT TITLE: PHASE IB/II CLINICAL STUDY USING SELINEXOR (KPT-330), GEMCITABINE HYDROCHLORIDE, AND PACLITAXEL ALBUMIN-STABILIZED NANOPARTICLE FORMULATION IN TREATING PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC PANCREATIC CANCER
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:
Asfar Azmi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University School of Medicine
PROJECT SUMMARY:
Dr. Azmi and his team developed a novel small molecule drug that targets the nuclear protein export machinery
His team has shown that the nuclear protein export inhibitor (selinexor) is active against pancreatic cancer cell line models and tumor models
This work led to a clinical trial at Karmanos Cancer Institute and invaluable response was observed in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Dr. Azmi’s team is currently evaluating the underlying reasons for response to this drug and also identifying the causes of resistance to better screen patient population ideal for selinexor based trials
Seed funding from Sky Foundation resulted in a large grant awarded to Dr. Azmi from National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health (NIH).
PROJECT TITLE: A NOVEL THERAPY FOR PANCREATIC NEUROENDOCRINE TUMORS
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:
Asfar Azmi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University School of Medicine
PROJECT SUMMARY:
Conduct research in the identification of novel therapeutic targets in pancreatic cancer subtypes
Dr. Azmi’s laboratory discovered two important proteins, the p21 activated kinase 4 (PAK4) and Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), that play a critical role in the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
A drug has been identified that targets these two pancreatic cancer sustenance proteins. The drug is effective in blocking the growth of pancreatic cell lines and patients derived tumors
Plans are in the works to initiate a Phase I clinical study testing the safety and efficacy of the drug in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors