Research Interests

Oncolytic virotherapy to enhance the cytotoxicity of radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy

In the last 5 years we have worked with adenovirus, herpes simplex virus, vaccinia and reovirus, both in the laboratory and the clinic. The complicated regulatory and manufacturing environment for viral therapies has dictated that much of our initial work has necessarily been conducted with commercially manufactured agents. 

• We have developed a very successful translational programme in which we conduct both laboratory and clinical studies with a number of viruses (herpes simplex virus, reovirus, vaccinia virus). Translational work on both HSV and reovirus has resulted in rapid progression of these agents through single agent phase I and II studies, such that they are now in phase III evaluation. HSV is being tested in phase III as a single agent therapy in patients with advanced malignant melanomas and as a combination therapeutic with chemoradiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancers.  
• In addition to developing the use of oncolytic agents for systemic (reovirus, vaccinia) or direct intratumoural (reovirus, HSV) administration, we also have a programme of work evaluating loco-regional virotherapy through microsurgical free flap transfer or isolated limb perfusion. We anticipate being able to test these strategies clinically in the next 2-3 years.

Development of targeted drugs that enhance the radiation response

We have an evolving programme in which we seek to test novel targeted radiosensitisers in in vitro and in vivo assays. Current work is focused on HSP90 inhibition (with 17-AAG, DMAG and NVP-AUY922). In addition, we are collaborating with Michelle Garrett and Ian Collins on Chk1 inhibition plus radiation. In the clinic, we have conducted phase I studies of lapatinib plus chemo-RT and have approval to conduct a phase I study of the PARP inhibitor olaparib iplus palliative radiotherapy. 

Dr Harrington is the Principal Investigator on phase II and III studies of lapatinib plus chemo-RT.

External Funding: Cancer Research UK; The Oracle Cancer Research Trust; The Royal College of Surgeons England; The Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh and Ireland; The Sarcoma Trust; European Society of Medical Oncology; EACR Mike Price Fellowship.