About Us

David Cheresh, PhD
Distinguished Professor, Pathology

Research Overview

Our major goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms promoting angiogenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis in order to develop novel therapeutics for cancer.

Our efforts have led to the understanding of how growth factors, growth factor receptors, and cell surface receptors (including integrins) drive signaling pathways leading to tumor cell invasion, migration, proliferation, and survival.  My findings have helped to delineate how these processes are regulated at the molecular level to impact a variety of cellular functions that impact cancer progression.

Work from my lab has led to the development of several novel therapeutics for cancer treatment.  Early in my career, I developed antibodies to tumor antigens and used these as both research tools and potential therapeutics. Among the antibodies I developed was one specific for the oligosaccharide portion of the GD2 ganglioside, expressed on tumors of neuroectoderm origin. This antibody was later humanized (named Unituxin) and approved by the FDA in 2015 as a frontline therapy for patients with advanced neuroblastoma.  Two integrin antagonists that developed from our work include Vitaxin (Abegrin), a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets αvβ3, and Cilengitide, a cyclic peptide antagonist of integrins αvβ3 and αvβ5. Both of these drugs demonstrated clinical activity in cancer patients in Phase II trials.  In addition, I was the scientific founder of TargeGen Inc., which developed a selective JAK2 inhibitor approved by the FDA in 2019 for patients with myelofibrosis.

About the Lab

We typically maintain a group size of about 10-15 members, including staff scientists, post-doctoral fellows, clinical fellows, PhD/MS students, and research associates.

Our research laboratory is located on the fourth floor of the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine (SCRM) building on the La Jolla campus of UC San Diego.

Along with our colleagues at UC San Diego and the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, our proximity to The Salk Institute, The Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, and The Scripps Research Institute provides a rich environment for collaboration.

Contact Us

dcheresh@ucsd.edu or zvigalok@ucsd.edu

2880 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, Mail Code 0695
La Jolla, CA 92037-0695