Overview:

Dr. Boockvar directs Cornell's Neurosurgical Laboratory for Translational Stem Cell Research. This laboratory works to bring advances in stem cell research to the bedside to aid patients with neurosurgical disorders. Dr. Boockvar's laboratory interests have focused on neural stem cells. Using the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Dr. Boockvar's laboratory investigates the link between brain tumor formation and adult human central nervous system stem cells. The laboratory is particurlarly interested in understanding the differential sensitivity of patients with glioma to EGFR inhibitors like erlotinib. By manipulating normal and tumor derived stem cell EGFR signaling, Dr. Boockvar studies neural stem cell migration and invasion as this has relevance to glioma and to intracerebral transplantation paradigms in other disorders such as stroke and spinal cord injury.


Ongoing Basic Research Projects:
1. The role of activated EGFR signaling and adult human SVZ stem cell phenotype

2. Differential role of EGFR mutants in human glioma

3. The role of activated EGFR signals and COX-2 enzymes in glioma

4. Epithelial to mesechymal gene signature as a determinant of response to Tarceva in glioblastoma patients

5. The role of statins and EGFR inhibitors in radioresistance to GBM

6. The role of EGFR signaling in tumor derived stem cell invasion and gliomagenesis

7. The role of phosphatases (PP2a and PP1) combined with tyrosine kinase inhibition in the treatment of malignant brain tumors

8. 3D tissue engineering models of the neural stem cell niche

9. Using novel microfluidic devices to assess neural stem cell motility



FUNDING AGENCIES:

Morgan Seed Grant for Tissue Engineering

Starr Foundation

Sekekos Foundation for Medical Research

American Association of Neurological Surgeons

American Brain Tumor Association

Charles Elsberg Society/ New York Academy of Medicine

Anspach Companies

National Institutes of Health (NINDS)

AANS/Congress of Neurological Surgeons

Private donors



Clinical Trials:

1. Dr. Boockvar is the principal investigator in a new dose escalation trial of the EGFR inhibitor,Tarceva (erlotinib, OSI-774)for the treatment of recurrent/refractory glioblastoma multiforma and anaplastic astrocytoma. For more information see https://clinicaltrials.gov

2. Dr. Boockvar is the principal investigator in a new trial of minimally invasive lumbar fusion with bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of single level degenerative lumbar spine disease.

Co-Investigator Trials:
1. A PHASE III RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND STUDY COMPARING HUMAN CORTICOTROPIN-RELEASING FACTOR (hCRF) TO DEXAMETHASONE FOR CONTROL OF SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH PERITUMORAL BRAIN EDEMA IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY MALIGNANT GLIOMA


2. A PHASE III RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND, DEXAMETHASONE-SPARING STUDY COMPARING HUMAN CORTICOTROPIN-RELEASING FACTOR (hCRF) TO PLACEBO FOR CONTROL OF SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH PERITUMORAL BRAIN EDEMA In PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT BRAIN TUMOR WHO REQUIRE CHRONIC ADMINISTRATION OF HIGH-DOSE DEXAMETHASONE

3. AN OPEN-LABEL, EXTENDED-USE STUDY OF HUMAN CORTICOTROPIN RELEASING FACTOR (hCRF) INTENDED FOR PATIENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEXAMETHASONE-SPARING STUDIES NTI 0302 OR NTI 0303.


4. A Phase I/II Trial of Maximal Resection, Local Radiation Boost with Concomitant Temozolomide, Followed by External Radiation Therapy with Concomitant Temozolomide for the Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme


If you would like to participate in one of these trials, please call 212-746-1996 to speak with our clinical trial coordinator.

If you would like to make an appointment with Dr. Boockvar, please call 212-746-1996.

For more information about our Brain Tumor Center, please visit us at www.cornellneurosurgery.org/braintumor.


For more information on Brain Tumors, please visit the following sites:

New York Brain Tumor Center

Brain Tumor Research Group