Henderson, Barbara, PhD

Dr. Henderson
Director, Photodynamic Therapy Center
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Elm and Carlton Streets
Buffalo New York USA 14263
Tel: 716-845-4429
Fax: 716-845-8920
E-mail: #mailto:Barbara.Henderson@roswellpark.org

Dr. Barbara W. Henderson earned her doctoral degree in Zoology at the University of Graz, Austria, in 1966 and joined the staff of Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) in 1970, as a Cancer Research Scientist. Dr. Henderson was the Program Leader, Biophysical Therapies Program, and the first Chair of the Department of Cell Stress Biology. She retired from these positions in 2007. Dr. Henderson, Professor of Oncology, currently is the Director of the Photodynamic Therapy Center at RPCI.

Dr. Henderson's laboratory research has provided numerous seminal insights into the mechanisms and strategies for optimization of photodynamic therapy (PDT); oxygen and light dependency of PDT; the effect of PDT on the host immune response against tumor; and determinants of photodynamic tumor destruction.

Dr. Henderson is a member of the American Association for Cancer Research, American Society of Photobiology, International Photodynamic Association, and the Radiation Research Society. She has for many years served as Associate Editor of the journal Photochemistry and Photobiology. She is a past member of the NCI Radiation Study Section and Subcommittee D (Clinical Studies) of the NCI Initial Review Group. She is a member of numerous committees at RPCI and has authored or co-authored more than 80 journal publications, book chapters and abstracts.

Description of Research

Photodynamic Therapy: Basic and Translational Research

The objective of this program is to devise and implement more effective approaches to Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). PDT involves the administration of a photodynamically-active drug (photosensitizer) or pro-drug followed by drug-activating visible light. This therapy has been successfully applied to both neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases.

Dr. Henderson is the Principal Investigator of a Program Project Grant (2009-2014) entitled “PDT: Mechanisms and Strategies for Optimization”.

This research program takes place in the multidisciplinary, highly interactive environments of the Photodynamic Therapy Center and the Biophysical Therapies Program. As such, numerous lines of attack are being taken to improve both the efficacy and selectivity of PDT, including (i) the rational design, synthesis and testing of new photosensitizers [directed by Dr. Ravindra Pandey, (ii) the design and application of optimal therapeutic regimens, e.g., drug dosage and schedule based on phamacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies [directed by Dr. David Bellnier, (iii) the elucidation and exploitation of PDT-induced immune responses [directed by Dr. Sandra Gollnick and (iv) the study of molecular pathways of PDT action [directed by Dr. Heinz Baumann. The program has clinical research components in the areas of lung cancer and head & neck cancer.

Selected Publications

Henderson, B. W., Busch, T. M., Vaughan, L. A., Frawley, N. P., Babich, D., Sosa, T. A., Zolo, J. D., Dee, A. S., Cooper, M. T., Bellnier, D. A., Greco, W. R., and Oseroff, A. R. Photofrin photodynamic therapy can significantly deplete or preserve oxygenation in human basal cell carcinomas during treatment, depending on fluence rate. Cancer Res., 60: 525-529, 2000.
Snyder, J. W., Greco, W. R., Bellnier, D. A., Vaughan, L., and Henderson, B. W. Photodynamic therapy: A means to enhanced drug delivery to tumors. Cancer Res, 63: 8126-8131, 2003.
Gollnick, S. O., Evans, S. S., Baumann, H., Owczarczak, B., Maier, P., Vaughan, L., Wang, W. C., Unger, E., and Henderson, B. W. Role of chemokines in the long-term response to photodynamic therapy. Brit.J.Cancer, 88: 1772-1779, 2003.
Henderson, B. W., Gollnick, S. O., Snyder, J. W., Busch, T. M., Kousis, P. C., Cheney, R. T., and Morgan, J. Choice of oxygen-conserving treatment regimen determines the inflammatory response and outcome of photodynamic therapy of tumors. Cancer Res, in press: 2004.
Henderson B. W, Daroqui C, Tracy E, Vaughan LA, Loewen GM, Cooper MT, Baumann H: Cross-linking of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 – A molecular marker for the photodynamic reaction in cells and tumors. Clin Cancer Res 13(11): 3156-3163, June 1, 2007.
Kousis, P. C., Henderson, B. W., Maier, P. G. and Gollnick, S. O. Photodynamic Therapy Enhancement of Antitumor Immunity is Regulated by Neutrophils, Cancer Res. 67(21)10501-10510, 2007.
Wei, L-H, Baumann, H, Wang, Y, Hutson, A, Rose-John, S and Henderson, B. W. Interleukin-6 Trans-signaling Enhances Photodynamic Therapy by Modulating Cell Cycling. Brit. J. Cancer 11:1513-1522, 2007
Seshadri, M, Bellnier, DA, Vaughan, LA, Spernyak, JA, Mazurchuk, R, Foster, TH, and Henderson, B. W. Light Delivery Over Extended Periods Enhances the Effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy. Clin. Cancer Res. 14 (9):2796-2805, 2008