title: Getting from the bench to the patient: biotechnology strategies.
abstract: Despite significant advances in understanding of molecular pathobiology, the adoption of this knowledge and its application to drug development is sporadic. Consequently, the drug development process has remained intrinsically laborious and inefficient. Translational research seeks to improve this process by integrating scientific advances into well-defined clinical challenges and opportunities. The focus of this article is on cancer therapeutics, specifically, 2 biotechnology organizations' advances in oncology: (1) optimizing the safety and efficacy of a novel DNA cross-linking small molecule, palifosfamide, and (2) bringing synthetic biology into clinical practice using a controllable gene therapy strategy with intratumorally injected interleukin-12 DNA, a potent cytokine.
authors.affiliation: One First Avenue, Parris Building 34, Navy Yard Plaza, Boston, MA 02129, USA.
authors.forename: Hagop
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Youssoufian
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001709:Biotechnology; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
keywords: Biotechnology; Immunotherapy; Palifosfamide; Synthetic biology; Translational research