Selected Bibliography

• Bailey Kristy E, Costantini Danny L, Cai Zhongli, Scollard Deborah A, Chen Zhuo, Reilly Raymond M, and Vallis Katherine A (2007) Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition modulates the nuclear localization and cytotoxicity of the Auger electron emitting radiopharmaceutical 111In-DTPA human epidermal growth factor. J Nucl Med, 48(9):1562-70.

• Costantini Danny L, Chan Conrad, Cai Zhongli, Vallis Katherine A, and Reilly Raymond M (2007) (111)In-labeled trastuzumab (Herceptin) modified with nuclear localization sequences (NLS): an Auger electron-emitting radiotherapeutic agent for HER2/neu-amplified breast cancer. J Nucl Med, 48(8):1357-68.

• Kotsopoulos J, Chen Z, Vallis K A, Poll A, Ainsworth P, and Narod S A (2007) DNA repair capacity as a possible biomarker of breast cancer risk in female BRCA1 mutation carriers. Br J Cancer, 96(1):118-25.

• Paszat Lawrence F, Vallis Katherine A, Benk Veronique MA, Groome Patti A, Mackillop William J, and Wielgosz Andreas (2007) A population-based case-cohort study of the risk of myocardial infarction following radiation therapy for breast cancer. Radiother Oncol, 82(3):294-300.

• White Elizabeth A, Cho John, Vallis Katherine A, Sharpe Michael B, Lee Grace, Blackburn Helen, Nageeti Tahani, McGibney Carol, and Jaffray David A (2007) Cone beam computed tomography guidance for setup of patients receiving accelerated partial breast irradiation. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 68(2):547-54.

Dr Katherine A Vallis

The goal of the Experimental Radiation Therapeutics Group is the development of novel anti-cancer radiopharmaceuticals.  We have been involved in the development of 111In-DTPA-EGF, which combines the Auger electron emitting isotope, 111Indium, with human epidermal growth factor, which targets EGFR-positive cancers. 111In-DTPA-hEGF is rapidly internalized and translocates to the nucleus.   111Indium emits densely ionizing Auger electrons that have a range of nanometers to micrometers and which are highly damaging to DNA.  We are building on our experience with 111In-DTPA-hEGF by designing and conducting pre-clinical investigations of other peptide-, antibody- and DNA-based agents.

Our three main research activities are: (1) The investigation of the radiobiological effects of Auger electron emitting radiopharmaceuticals (2) The pre-clinical development of molecularly targeted radiopharmaceuticals and (3) Early phase clinical trials of novel radiotherapeutic agents alone and in combination with other anticancer treatments.

2006 - Senior Group Leader
Radiation Oncology & Biology
University of Oxford

2005 - Associate Professor in Radiation Oncology and Medical Biophysics
University of Toronto

1995-2006 - Staff Radiation Oncologist
Princess Margaret Hospital
Toronto