Research Overview
Director, Neurosurgical Laboratory for Translational Stem Cell Research
Overview:
Dr. Boockvar directs Cornell's Neurosurgical Laboratory for Translational Brain Tumor and Stem Cell Research and heads the Brain Tumor Research Group at Weill. 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 both normal neural stem cells and cancer derived tumor stem cells.
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 targeted therapeutics and whether tumor stem cells play a role in this response. By manipulating normal and tumor derived stem cell signaling, Dr. Boockvar studies neural stem cell migration and invasion as this has relevance to glioma invasion and response to therapy.
Ongoing Basic Research Projects:
1. The role of activated EGFR signaling and downstream modulators in adult human normal and brain tumor 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 (EMT) 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
10. Using SPIO nanoparticles to trace neural and tumor derived stem cells
11. Understanding the role of GSK3B in malignant glioma
FUNDING AGENCIES:
National Cancer Institute
Adelson Foundation for Medical Research
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 
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 Superselective Intraarterial Cerebral Infusion of Bevacizumab for Malignant Glioma (see clinicaltrials.gov)
3. Dr. Boockvar is the principal investigator in a new trial of Superselective intraarterial Cerebral infusion of Cetuximab for Malignant Glioma (see clinicaltrials.gov)
4. Dr. Boockvar is the prinicpal investigator in a new trial of Intraventricular Bevacizumab (Avastin) for leptomeningeal disease or Neoplastic Meningitis
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 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
