Dr Wong is the author of A Re-assessment of the Safety and Efficacy of Interleukin-2 for the Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma which was recently published in Clinical Medicine Insights: Therapeutics.

The Editor in Chief of Clinical Medicine Insights: Therapeutics recently issued a call for papers.

What is the primary focus of your research?

One of the major fustrations in the current treatment of cancer is that the disease often times becomes refractory to treatment. Although there are multiple reasons for this, we believe that the major issue is cancer's ability to mutate, change and adapt to therapeutic pressure. Host pathways do not possess this gene expression promiscuity, and thereby are a more "stable" therapeutic target. Our research work is directed at working out how tumors hijack host mechanisms to become malignant. The aim is to develop new therapeutic strategies directed at these pathways.

What are the most exciting developments arising from current research in your area?

Our clinical and translational research work point to 3 promising areas: tumor angiogenesis, tumor-host matrix interactions and immunomodulation of the tumor microenvironment.

In keeping with this focus, we administer high dose Interleukin-2 for advanced or metastatic kidney cancer and malignant melanoma. Our interest is in improving the long term response rate to this therapy.

Who are your main collaborators? Please describe your work with them.

Our clinical team comprises: Ms. Tammy Hecke RN, Ms. Jill Nestico NP, Mr. Anthony Jarkowski PharmD, Ms. Karen Vona NP. Our translational research team is lead by: Dr. Raya Huang PhD and Ms. Dawn Bowers BSc.

How did you come to be working in your research area?

I was motivated by the desire to make a difference in the treatment of people afflicted with advanced cancer.

What do you think about the development of open access publishing?

The ability to get the information to the people who need it or interested in it is important.

What articles and/or books have you published recently?

Wong MKK. Melanoma biology: the foundation of therapy. Community Oncol 5(3), Supp 2:6-14, 2008.

Rigual NR, Popat SR, Jayaprakash V, Jaggernauth W, Wong M. Cutaneous head and neck melanoma: the old and the new. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 8(3):403-412 2008.

Wong, MKK. The current role of immunotherapy for renal cell carcinoma in the era of targeted therapeutics. Current Oncol Rep 10:259-263, 2008.

Chen S-C, Henry DO, Reczek PR, Wong MKK. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 inhibits prostate tumor growth through endothelial apoptosis. Mol Cancer Ther 7(5):1227-1236, 2008.

Chen S-C, Henry DO, Hicks DG, Reczek PR, Wong MK. Intravesical administration of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 inhibits in vivo bladder tumor invasion and progression. J Urol Jan;181(1):336-42, 2009.

Jarkowski III A, Wong MKK. Response to sorafenib after sunitinib-induced acute heart failure in a patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: case report and review of the literature. Pharmacotherapy Apr;29(4):473-8, 2009.