Cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR) can develop when circulating anti-tumor antibodies from primary cancers (breast, lung, gynecologic, colon, pancreatic and prostate) cross-react with retinal proteins and cause retinal degeneration and vision loss. Similar forms of retinal damage are associated with the skin cancer, melanoma (melanoma-associated retinopathy, MAR).
Dr. Aleman is an experienced clinician who routinely treats adults and children with inherited retinal degenerations, and is a specialist in retinal imaging. He has seen many patients with cancer associated retinopathy (CAR).
Dr. Aleman is collaborating with Dr. Katherine Uyhazi to develop a combination of gene therapy and cell replacement therapy to restore the damaged retina in models of CAR. The rod and cone photoreceptor cells in the retina are damaged from CAR and their experiments focus on transplanting photoreceptor precursor cells into models of CAR. Other genes and proteins may be needed to support the transplanted cells. The scientists will deliver gene therapy to adjacent cells so the transplanted cells can properly function.
Impact
Drs. Aleman and Uyhazi’s fields of expertise complement each another to provide the basic science as well as clinical perspective critical to the success of developing this novel therapy that may give cancer patients the chance to see again.
