Maxwell V. Meng, MD

Research Interests

Novel Molecular Therapeutics in Bladder Cancer

Meng is interested in developing novel therapeutic interventions for bladder cancer and initiating clinical trials using these agents. Elizabeth Blackburn, PhD has discovered that targeting the telomerase within cancer cells is able to effectively kill the cancer cells. In collaboration Meng and Blackburn are investigating methods of delivering novel agents into the bladder to treat bladder cancer. Current studies are examining this approach in animal models as well as human tumor specimens.

Molecular Predictors of Prostate Cancer

Although many clinical methods of assessing prostate cancer exist, few molecular markers for disease behavior have been identified. Meng investigated the role of MCM2, a novel protein involved in DNA replication in the prostate. He discovered that MCM2 is overexpressed in prostate cancers but not within normal or hyperplastic tissue. Moreover, the level of MCM2 in the specimen after prostatectomy was able to accurately predict how patients fared after surgery. MCM2, as well as other molecular markers, are important in determining the prognosis in patients with prostate cancer and may help lead to discovery of crucial steps in prostate cancer development.

Minimally Invasive Approaches to Urologic Cancer

The revolution in minimally invasive surgery (laparosopy) has expanded to include all areas of urology, including oncology. Meng has had a long-standing interest in the application of laparoscopy for treating cancers of the urologic system. During his fellowship he performed laparoscopic surgery for cancers of the kidney, ureter, bladder, adrenal gland, and prostate. Meng helped develop and perform novel minimally invasive operations, publishing over 13 manuscripts on the topic. His main area of laparoscopic interest is the pathologic examination of specimens for cancer after laparoscopy and studying the outcomes in these patients.

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