Training
Universität Bern, Medizinische Fakultät, Doctor Der Medizin

Fellowships: Hematology-Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center/The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, NY, 1996-1997; Clinical Oncology Fellow, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY

Research Interests
Dr. Munster's basic laboratory research interests are in the area of developing novel targeted therapy for the treatment of breast cancer and their integration into current treatment strategies. Dr. Munster has been studying a novel class of anti-tumor agents, the histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi). This class of drugs induces tumor cell differentiation, growth arrest and apoptosis by themselves, but may also alter the chromatin structure. The chromatin modulation may render the DNA more vulnerable to DNA damaging agents; this may therefore be a strategy to enhance anti-tumor activity of many currently used chemotherapeutic agents and may overcome resistance. Optimal sequences of drug administration, as well as the dependence on target expression and location are currently bewing explored in cell culture assys and animal models. The goal of these studies is to select regimens that are most synergistic and to define markers that may predict responses. These studies will then be translated into the clinical setting.

Search for publications by:   
This search will be conducted at the US National Library of Medicine (NLM) and PubMed.

Selected Publications

Buzdar A, O’Shaughnessy JA, Booser DJ, Pippen JE Jr, Jones SE, Münster PN, Peterson P, Melemed AS, Winer E, Hudis C. Phase II, randomized, double-blind study of two dose levels of arzoxifene in patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. J Clin Onco. 2003 Mar 15;21(6):1007-14

Marchion, Douglas C., Bicaku, E, Daud, Adil I., Richon, Victoria, Sullivan, Daniel M., Münster PN, Potentiation of Topoisomerase II Inhibitor-induced DNA Damage by the Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry 92, 223-237, 2004.

Daud AI, Valkov N, Centeno B, Derderian J, Sullivan P, Münster PN, Urbas P, DeConti R, Berghorn E, Liu Z, Hausheer E and Sullivan DM. Phase II trial of Karenitecin in Patients with Malignant Melanoma: A Clinical and Translational Study. Clin Cancer Res, April 2005;11(8).

Marchion DC, Bicaku E, Daud AI, Sullivan DM and Münster PN. Valproic Acid Alters Chromatin Structure by Regulation of Chromatin Modulation Proteins. Cancer Res, May 2005 65: (9).

- Back to Main Faculty Page -

Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, MRC-4 East
12902 Magnolia Drive
Tampa, Florida 33612
Phone: 813-745-6876
E-mail: CancerPHD@moffitt.org
Copyright © 2000 University of South Florida