Synopsis:

Rebuilding the salivary glands takes nerve. Salivary glands were thought to be irreversibly damaged by radiation as an off target effect for the treatment of head and neck cancer. Dr. Knox will showcase a potential therapeutic that is based on her discovery that neuronal signals can restore radiation damaged tissue. Moreover, she demonstrates that not only acute tissue is resolved, it has the capability of repairing severe, long-term damage. Dr. Knox has developed a company based on this therapy that is actively engaged gaining IND approval for a Phase I clinical trial. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Salivary glands often undergo degeneration in response to off target radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, with saliva synthesizing acinar cells heavily impacted
2. The cholinergic nerve supply to the acinar cells and tissue is reduced in the irradiated salivary gland, compromising tissue repair
3. Slow release of nerve derived agents from a hydrogel depot administered to the glands activates acinar cell proliferation to promote tissue regeneration
4. Acinar cell regeneration is achieved through cholinergic activation of two pathways thought to be only involved in saliva secretion - calcium and cAMP.