Our Science – Khanna Website

Chand Khanna, DVM, Ph.D.

Pediatric Oncology Branch Head, Tumor and Metastasis Biology Section Senior Scientist 37 Convent Drive, Suite 2144 Bethesda, MD 20892 Phone:   301 594-3406 Fax:   301 443-1838 E-Mail:   KHANNAC@MAIL.NIH.GOV Link: Other Homepage

Biography

Dr. Khanna is a graduate of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Dr. Khanna's specialty training included a Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Internship at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Ontario followed by a residency in Veterinary Internal Medicine and Oncology at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Khanna is board-certified with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology).
His training in cancer research includes a PhD in Pathobiology from the University of Minnesota, where he studied the immunotherapy of metastatic cancers and a Senior Staff Fellowship with the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda Maryland. Dr. Khanna is currently the Head of the Tumor and Metastasis Biology Section of the Pediatric Oncology Branch at the National Cancer Institute. His primary area of research interest is the biology and treatment of cancer metastasis.
Dr. Khanna has been able to couple his training in veterinary oncology with his interests in cancer research through the development and leadership of the newly formed Comparative Oncology Program, within the National Cancer Institutes Center for Cancer Research. This program aims to improve outcomes for cancer patients through the inclusion of pet animals with cancer in studies of cancer biology and treatment.
Dr. Khanna serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Veterinary and Comparative Oncology, is a reviewer for over 30 clinical and scientific journals, has authored several text book chapters and manuscripts in the field of veterinary oncology and cancer biology, and is the Chair of the Comparative Models Subcommittee of the Children's Oncology Group.

Research

Head -Tumor and Metastasis Biology Section, Pediatric Oncology Branch , Center for Cancer Research

The Tumor and Metastasis Biology Section of the Pediatric Oncology Branch is involved in the study of the biology and therapy of metastasis, primarily in childhood cancers.

Our approach to the problem of metastasis is founded in the development, characterization and use of relevant in vivo (animal) models of metastasis. These models include transplantable tumor models, genetically engineered mouse models of metastasis, and naturally occurring cancers that develop in companion animals. The study of companion animal cancers is facilitated through the Center for Cancer Research - Comparative Oncology Program (http://ccr.nci.nih.gov/resources/cop/). The use of several model systems to study problems in metastasis provides an opportunity to emphasize strengths and minimize weaknesses of a single model system. Ongoing projects by our group include:
1. Identification and evaluation of metastasis-associated genes and proteins in osteosarcoma
2. Development of in vivo assays of specific metastasis-associated processes
3. Single cell in vivo imaging and intravital imaging of metastatic cells
4. Preclinical investigation of novel antimetastatic therapeutic strategies


Head - Comparative Oncology Program, Center for Cancer Research

A central mission of the Center for Cancer Research (CCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the development and delivery of novel cancer treatment strategies for cancer patients. A significant hurdle in the translation of information from the laboratory to the clinic is the availability of appropriate preclinical cancer models. Through a number of new initiatives the CCR has created an essential infrastructure to facilitate the translational research process. An example of this effort is the CCR - Comparative Oncology Program (http://ccr.nci.nih.gov/resources/cop/). Comparative Oncology refers to the study of naturally occurring cancers, primarily in companion animals. The CCR - Comparative Oncology Program will provide the Center for Cancer Research and the National Cancer Institute to include companion animals in the study of the treatment and biology of cancer.

The initial goals of the CCR - Comparative Oncology Program:
1. Develop essential reagent kit for the study of comparative models in translational and biology-based research. Specific reagents/resources include:
Canine oligonucleotide microarray: Optimized techniques and normal tissue expression standards for both a first generation and more recently a second generation canine oligonucleotide microarray have been completed and initiated. This microarray is currently available through Affymetrix.
Serum proteomics (SELDI-TOFF): Conditions for canine serum proteomic analysis have been optimized in collaboration with Timothy Veenstra (Biological Proteomics Program).
Validated antibody data base: A database of validated antibodies for use in canine tissues is being developed within the Comparative Oncology Program in collaboration with commercial antibody vendors and Dr. David Goldsmith (Center for Cancer Research).
Canine Comparative Oncology Genomics Consortium (CCOGC): Using its neutral position, the Comparative Oncology Program has brought together a broad representation of parties (academic, industry, government) focused on the genetics and biology of cancer in dogs. The efforts of the CCOGC is timely, given the release of the canine genome sequence in the spring of 2005. The CCOGC was memorialized on 9/26/05 at a meeting hosted by the Comparative Oncology Program. The shared interests of the CCOGC will result in further genomics reagent/resource development and collaborative efforts that will characterize canine cancers as molecular models of human disease.
Canine Cancer Biospecimen Repository: A biospecimen respository of frozen, and formalin fixed tissues from dogs with cancer has been established through a contract with the McKesson Services. The collection of samples to populate this bank will occur through clinical trials conducted by the Comparative Oncology Trials Consortium (COTC; discussed below) and the CCOGC.
Canine Cancer Tissue Arrays: In collaboration with Dr. Stephen Hewitt (CCR - Tissue Array Project), a number of robust canine cancer tissue arrays have been developed. These arrays include outcome linked canine lymphoma, outcome linked canine osteosarcoma, outcome linked nasal carcinoma, and a multi-tumor canine tissue array. Arrays in development include a canine mammary cancer and canine prostate cancer array. These array reagents have and will be useful for the identification of therapeutic targets in canine cancers, and the study of cancer and metastasis biology.

2. Develop multi-center collaborative network with extramural comparative oncology programs. Within this network design, implement and manage pre-clinical trials involving pet animals that will evaluate novel therapeutic strategies for cancer;
Comparative Oncology Trial Consortium: The Comparative Onoclogy Program has used its neutral leadership position to bring together several top-notch schools of veterinary medicine to collaborate as a multi-center clinical trial network. This network will work together through the leadership of the Comparative Oncology Program to offer the pharmaceutical industry, other parts of the National Cancer Institute, and the broader academic community the opportunity to inform their cancer drug development paths by using naturally occurring cancers in dogs as models for drug development. The first trial through the Comparative Oncology Trial Consortium is expected to launch in the fall of 2005.

3. Increase the awareness of the appropriate use of naturally occurring cancer models within the cancer research community.

This page was last updated on 7/15/2008.